Will Stein
By Chris Wright
Last Updated:
Kentucky named Will Stein its head football coach on Dec. 1, 2025. Stein replaces Mark Stoops, who was fired on Nov. 30, 2025. Stoops is Kentucky’s all-time winningest coach, leaving with a career record of 82-80.
Stein has never been a head coach, but he is considered one of the bright offensive minds in college football.
Will Stein Coaching Record
Will Stein has never been a head coach. He will coach his first game in Kentucky’s 2026 season-opener against Youngstown State.
Will Stein Coaching History
Will Stein, a former backup quarterback at Louisville, started his coaching career as a grad assistant with the Cardinals in 2013. Here is Stein’s complete coaching resume.
- Dec. 1, 2025-: Head coach — Kentucky
- 2023-2025: Offensive coordinator/QB coach — Oregon
- 2022: Offensive coordinator — UT San Antonio
- 2020-2021: Passing Game coordinator — UT San Antonio
- 2018-2019: Offensive coordinator — Lake Travis (Texas) High School
- 2015-2017: Quality control — Texas
- 2014: Quality control — Louisville
- 2013: Graduate assistant — Louisville
Will Stein Bio
The Kentucky roots run deep in the Stein family. Will’s father, Matt, earned 2 letters as a defensive end for Kentucky in 1983 and 1984.
Will Stein earned his stripes on the other side of the ball. Born in Louisville, Stein was a standout quarterback at Trinity High School, where he won 3 state championships and set the single-season record for touchdown passes in a season with 54.
Stein didn’t follow his father to Kentucky, however. Instead, he signed with Louisville, where he spent 4 seasons as the Cardinals’ backup quarterback. He threw 6 touchdown passes in his career. After graduating, he joined Louisville’s staff as a grad assistant in 2013, launching his quick run to the highest level of college football.
In 2022, Stein was named an offensive coordinator at the college level for the first time. He has spent the past 3 seasons as Oregon’s offensive coordinator, coaching NFL quarterback Bo Nix along the way.
Stein, who is 36, is expected to continue in his role with Oregon through the completion of the 2025-26 College Football Playoff, after which he’ll resume his duties as Kentucky’s head football coach.
Managing Editor
A 30-time APSE award-winning editor with previous stints at the Miami Herald, The Indianapolis Star and News & Observer, Executive Editor Chris Wright oversees editorial operations for Saturday Down South.
