Report: Oregon expected to hire UTSA's Will Stein as offensive coordinator
Oregon has reportedly found its next offensive coordinator.
According to a report from Matt Zenitz of On3, the Ducks are expected to hire UTSA offensive coordinator Will Stein for the same position.
Stein, 33, is in his first year as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator at UTSA. He served as the pass-game coordinator and wide receivers coach for the Roadrunners in 2020 and 2021 and has tabbed by many in the industry as a “rising star.”
A former quarterback at Lousiivlle from 2008-2012, Stein emerged as the Cardinal’s starting signal-caller as a junior before suffering an injury. He joined the program’s coaching staff as a graduate assistant in 2013 and served in an offensive quality control position the next season.
From 2015-17, Stein worked in a quality control position at Texas.
He then briefly left the college ranks in 2018 and joined the coaching staff at Texas powerhouse Lake Travis High School, where he served as associate head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach for two seasons.
In 2020, Stein joined Jeff Traylor’s UTSA staff and spent the next two seasons as the program’s wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator. Under Stein, junior receiver Zakhari Franklin emerged as one of the most productive pass-catchers in the country and finished the year with 1,027 yards and 12 touchdowns on 81 receptions.
In his first year as offensive coordinator this fall, Stein helped UTSA become one of the more dynamic offenses in the country.
The Roadrunners ranked ninth in total offense at 487.6 yards per game and 12th in scoring offense at 38.7 yards per game.
UTSA also matched Utah for the most first downs in the country this season at 342.
Stein will replace Kenny Dillingham, who accepted the head coaching position at Arizona State in late November.
The No. 22 Roadrunners are slated to face No. 23 Troy in the Duluth Trading Cure Bowl on Dec. 16.
At this time, it is unclear when Stein will officially join Oregon’s staff.
During his Sunday press conference, Ducks’ head coach Dan Lanning was asked who will handle play-calling duties when Oregon faces North Carolina in the Dec. 28 Holiday Bowl.
Lanning said whoever is hired as Oregon’s OC will not call plays for the Ducks in the bowl game.
“I don’t think that’s fair to bring in a brand new coach and ask them to call the bowl game when there is terminology and some differences there,” Lanning said. “With that being said, Drew Mehringer, Junior Adams, Adrian Klemm, Carlos Locklyn, our offensive staff will prep us. Jordan Somerville will prep us as we move into the bowl game and be ready to take on the bowl game and compete with some of that same terminology and things that we’ve attacked this season.”
