We have been waiting to see exactly what Will Stein's version of Kentucky Football looks like on paper. Thanks to a new report from the Herald-Leader's Jon Hale, we finally have the receipts.
And let me tell you, the numbers tell a very specific story that each person reading this should be thrilled about.
Will Stein isn't interested in the old way of doing things, and just getting by. He isn't paying two or three superstar assistants to carry the load while everyone else makes peanuts; that kind of staff depth will only help elevate the entire program. He is taking that money and building a monster.
The monster approach to building Kentucky football's staff
In the Mark Stoops era, the spending was top-heavy. Stoops was making over 9 million himself, and Brad White, Bush Hamdan, and Vince Marrow (before he left for the Cards) were making massive seven-figure salaries, and that was great for them. The rest of the staff was paid way less.
But Stein has flipped the script totally.
According to the report, Stein’s top 10 on-field assistants are actually making less combined ($6.195M) than the previous staff ($7.39M). This does not take into account the head coach in either number, though it would bring Stein's on-field staff to around 11 million and Stoops' to 16 million.
But here is where the new regime is banking to make their money: Stein has hired 24 assistant coaches tasked with on-field instruction.
That is a massive increase in bodies. Instead of paying one guy $1.2 million to do three jobs, he is paying three hungry guys $400k each to ensure every single player gets hands-on coaching. That is how you develop talent in the SEC in the Transfer Portal era. You overwhelm them with teachers and make sure each person gets instruction in practice.
The back office is finally big time
This is the part that has me excited to see what the future holds for this group of coaches and the next wave of players. For years, we have screamed that Kentucky needs to modernize its front office. This is not the old way of doing things anymore; that just does not work. We needed to treat the roster like an NFL franchise, because, quite frankly, that is what it is. And now Kentucky is paying great talent evaluators good money to come in and help build this program into prominence.
General Manager Pat Biondo will make $500,000. Half a million dollars for a GM. That proves roster management and recruitment are being taken seriously.
Another really exciting thing for fans and players alike is that the Strength and Conditioning budget has jumped to $1 million. Games are won in the fourth quarter, and having money spent on players taking care of their bodies is money well spent.
Stein isn't looking for mercenaries in the staff or on the roster. He wants guys who want to be here for the long haul. The report details that the 10 recruiting assistants have a good size $800,000 buyout if they leave for another job before December 1st. That helps to build stability on the staff, something that Mark Stoops struggles with.
Translation? Stop using Kentucky as a stepping stone. If you sign here, you are locked in.
The total staff spend is up to $7.8 million. The money is being spread out, the support staff is massive, and the weight room is getting paid. That is how you build out a staff to compete in the modern era of football. That is how you take Kentucky football to the next level. Will Stein is dreaming big, and his spending matches it.