Kentucky didn’t just hire a play-caller. According to ESPN, the Wildcats hired a coach with a personal connection to the program and a clear blueprint for fixing the thing that’s been holding Kentucky back.
In ESPN’s evaluation of the move, Adam Rittenberg details why the fit makes sense and why the upside is worth the risk.
Kentucky football Will Stein brings something UK has been missing
Rittenberg’s write-up cuts right to what matters most: Stein wanted Kentucky.
Not in the generic “good job, good league” way, in the family-and-roots way. Rittenberg notes that both of Stein’s parents attended Kentucky and that his father, Matt Stein, played defensive end for the Wildcats under Jerry Claiborne.
That’s not fluff. In this era, “wanting to be there” is a real trait especially when the job includes booster politics, NIL battles, portal retention, and an SEC schedule that eats hesitation for breakfast.
And beyond the heartstrings piece, Stein was hired for the problem Kentucky can’t dodge: offense.
ESPN notes Kentucky’s struggles since 2022, with the Wildcats ranking 115th nationally in scoring and 101st in total offense over that span.
That’s the resume line that forced the change.
Why ESPN believes Stein can fix the offense
Stein’s calling card is quarterback development and system flexibility. ESPN’s profile points to his ability to win with different styles and different passers, from Frank Harris at UTSA to the names Kentucky fans recognize from Oregon: Dante Moore, Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel.
More importantly, he brings an identity. Kentucky has spent too many Saturdays trying to survive on “get it to third-and-manageable and hope.” Stein’s reputation is built on creating advantages: spacing, tempo changes, motion, and putting defenders in conflict.
If Kentucky is going to take a real step forward in the SEC, the Wildcats have to become a place that attracts offensive skill talent, not just develops it after everyone else passed.
Stein is Kentucky’s bet that the magnet can finally flip on.
The big concern isn’t scheme, it’s the whole job
ESPN is also direct about the risk: head coaching is different.
It’s staff assembly. It’s roster building. It’s retention in December. It’s making sure your program is aligned from nutrition to recruiting to NIL strategy.
Rittenberg points to the reality that Stein will need a strong staff around him, particularly on defense, and will have to push for the resources required to compete in a league that keeps accelerating. To see who he has selected, you can click here to see his full staff.
That’s the job.
Not drawing up the perfect third-and-7 call.
What “A minus” really means for Kentucky football
Kentucky didn’t get graded like a feel-good Group of Five hire. ESPN evaluated this like a serious SEC move, and still landed in the A range.
That doesn’t guarantee wins, but it does confirm something Kentucky fans have wanted to hear for years:
National eyes see the same thing you see. The path forward is obvious.
Now Kentucky has a coach hired specifically to walk it.
Other SEC hire grades:
Arkansas- Ryan Silverfield- B
Auburn- Alex Golesh- B+
Florida- Jon Sumrall-B+
LSU- Lane Kiffin- A-
Ole Miss- Pete Golding- B