Special teams isn’t the sexy side of football, but it’s the side that quietly decides games. And Kentucky just made a change that matters.
Jay Boulware is out after three seasons in Lexington, and Will Stein is bringing in Parker Fleming as part of the staff rebuild. Boulware thanked Big Blue Nation on his way out. He thanked Mark Stoops and Mitch Barnhart, saying it "was truly a blessing to be a part of this great University and fan base."
Thank you BBN for your support these last 3 years. I really enjoyed my time here. Thank you Coach Stoops and Mitch Barnhart for the opportunity. It was truly a blessing to be a part of this great University and fan base. 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/KHM8Yksi9W
— Jay Boulware (@CoachJ_Boulware) December 28, 2025
Boulware leaves behind real production in at least one area. Kentucky set a school record for field-goal conversion rate in 2024, a number that kept drives from turning into regrets. But the punting identity was more complicated. Kentucky shifted away from the rugby-style emphasis it had leaned on, and that kind of philosophical change can look uneven when the roster was built for something else.
Now it becomes Fleming’s problem, and opportunity, to stabilize the operation. Stein’s offense is going to get the headlines, but a new staff trying to win quickly can’t afford to lose the hidden-yardage battle every Saturday. If Kentucky gets reliable specialists, a return threat that can flip the field, and a unit that stops giving away free possessions, it won’t feel like “special teams” anymore. It’ll feel like points.
The bigger picture under Will Stein
This is the through-line you should pay attention to: Stein is building a program and staff that looks obsessed with structure and flexibility.
Offense will be the headline, because Stein is an offensive mind and Kentucky has needed a modern scoring identity. But championships are built by details; especially early, when you’re trying to change the level of the roster and the standard of execution at the same time.
Fleming isn’t a flashy hire for casual fans. He’s the kind of hire serious programs make because they understand the math: special teams is the fastest way to steal points without being a finished product everywhere else. He also has QB and WR coaching experience, which means he can help in multiple areas.
And in Stein’s first season, Kentucky will need to be flexible and fluid.