Will Stein promises 'exciting brand of football' that will 'light up the scoreboard' for Kentucky

Oregon has had three top-15 offenses with three different quarterbacks in Will Stein‘s time calling plays for the Ducks, leading that unit to 38.2 points and 465.2 yards per game in 2025, good for ninth and 13th nationally, respectively. Before his stint in Eugene, he led UTSA to top-15 finishes in scoring offense, passing offense and total offense as the offensive coordinator in San Antonio. It’s what the 36-year-old from Louisville does.

The plan is to keep that production rolling in Lexington, feeding the studs to light up the Kroger Field scoreboard starting next fall.

“We’re going to play an exciting brand of football. That’s the only way I know how to do it,” Stein said at his introductory press conference. “We’re gonna take risks. Our offense, our plan is to light up the scoreboard. Why not? I’ve seen it done here many a times, and that’s the goal.”

Kentucky is going to get some studs, and then Stein is going to feed them. That’s what made him the No. 1 offensive coordinator in college football going into the current 2025 season, according to On3’s Andy Staples, setting up his leap to SEC football as a head coach.

It’s a system that works, and one that’s going to continue working leading the Wildcats.

“Feed the Studs, it’s a real simple philosophy: get your best players the ball as many times as you can,” Stein said. “We know players win games. Scheme is great. Think we have great scheme, we have the way we game plan. What makes a play? I tell the guys every Saturday, they make the plays possible. They do. It comes to life with the players.”

That doesn’t mean life in the toughest football league in the world outside of the NFL is going to be a breeze, but he didn’t sign up for a cakewalk — if he wanted that, he’d go coach at his alma mater in the ACC.

But all of his biggest dreams as a head coach can and will become a reality in Lexington. There is no trying, only doing. And while offense is his specialty, he’s going to take care of business in all phases to put an all-around product on the field Big Blue Nation will be proud of.

“It’s not easy. Football is not easy. Not meant to be easy,” Stein said. “It’s the toughest game in the world played by tough men. I know doing it the right way, the way I’ve seen at the highest of levels in college football, it will be done here at Kentucky. 

“On defense, man, we’re going to play relentless from Point A, to Point B, attacking the football and having great ball excellence. Special teams, we say we’re going to change the game. I want to fake punt. I want to onside kick. I want to take advantage of opportunities to steal possessions in the game so we can maximize our points.”

Now, it’s time to go prove it.

“We’re a national brand. We work in the best conference in the world,” Stein continued. “There’s no reason why we can’t be successful here, zero. The excuses are done. It’s time to get to work. It will work. It does take work.”

“I’m one of the best play callers in the country.”

How hands-on will he be on the offense, his calling card and the reason he got the job? It’s going to be his baby, obviously, but you may find it interesting he told Keith Farmer of BBN Tonight that he may not be calling every single play on every single drive.

It’s now his responsibility to be the best head coach, not just simply the best play caller in college football — his reputation for years. He’s gonna be hands-on everywhere.

“I do believe I’m one of the best play callers in the country and I know why I’m in this position. But I don’t want to be a great play caller, I want to be a great head coach,” Stein told Farmer. “When you think about the guys who have won national championships recently and old, it’s guys who have been great head coaches.

“I’m gonna be heavily involved every step of the way, but just because I’m not reading off into the mic to our quarterback doesn’t mean I’m not meticulous about the plays being called and when they’re being called. I want to be a great head coach, and while the offense is on the bench getting adjustments, I want to be able to tell the defense what’s going on and be able to prep for hopefully a lot of extra points, be the best head coach I can be.”

"I do believe I'm one of the best play callers in the country"

New UK football head coach Will Stein spoke one-on-one with @KeithFarmer18 about making the transition from coordinator to head coach. pic.twitter.com/b9l2j3Xc8H

— BBN Tonight (@BBNTonight) December 3, 2025

As long as Kentucky lights up the scoreboard every Saturday at Kroger Field, I don’t think fans care how they get there.