When Will Stein was hired to be Kentucky football's head coach in Deecember, most everyone agreed the Cats hit a home run. You had industry insiders like Pete Nakos and Josh Pate singing his praises before he really even got off to a hot start - which, eventually, he did.
Stein has done little to sway anyone to the other side since then, both landing quarterback touted Kenny Minchey for this season and bringing in a top 25 class for the season after. The latter is led by a commitment from the No. 2 overall QB in the class, Jake Nawrot. And now, Georgia Football legend David Pollack just everyone know how he feels about Kentucky's newest head coach.
"There's a basketball school right down the road that just became a football powerhouse. Why not Big Blue Nation?" said the former three-time All-American, in a clip that predictably excited Kentucky fans on X.
Can Will Stein Turn Kentucky Into a Football Powerhouse?@UKFootball pic.twitter.com/njh4JzjGmS
— David Pollack (@davidpollack47) August 1, 2026
It's not the first time people have connected Kentucky to last year's national champion, in Indiana. When Curt Cignetti was hired as the Hoosiers' head coach in 2023, he told people to "Google me." At SEC Media Days this year, when asked why he believes Kentucky can win in the SEC, Will Stein simply said, "Because of me." It's a bold strategy, but it's hard to deny that the two minds are similar.
That kind of confidence is needed at an underdog football program, but according to Pollack, it's not just the confidence alone; it's the execution that will set Kentucky Football up for success, both this season and beyond.
Will Stein Will Maximize Kentucky's Talent
"Staff and player relationships are unbelievable, not afraid to try new things, matches schemes to his personnel the best, and makes QB comfortable in any system," Pollack went on, just outright praising Stein. He wasn't done there, either.
Pollack continued, "The reason for optimism for this unit is the Big Blue Wall... You've got guys with starts across the board from Tennessee, from Alabama, from Ohio State, from Baylor... I have no doubt Will Stein is going to get the best out of them."
That last line should have you ready to hit Kroger Field tonight and set up your pregame tailgate spot. But it's also why I believe Stein has a solid chance of being truly successful in Lexington.
Mark Stoops won 10 games twice with Kentucky, but he never found a path to stay consistently in the top 10 nationally. Going back to Rich Brooks, he never had the resources to take Kentucky beyond that eight-win plateau, even if his coaching ability was certainly there. But now another former Oregon coach, Will Stein, has the money to compete, and it's hard to doubt his coaching ability.
We'll find out the surefire answer soon enough. But for now, hearing nearly everyone nationally praise your new head coach is a pretty awesome feeling for Cats fans.
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