Kentucky football's staff-building under new head coach Will Stein hit a surprising twist Thursday when reports surfaced that ex-LSU offensive coordinator Joe Sloan is the pick to run the Wildcats' attack.
Initial buzz pointed to UTSA's Justin Burke, a coordinator whose Roadrunners averaged 33 points per game this season, but Pete Thamel confirm that Stein turned to Sloan, who was fired by LSU in October after a Tigers offense that managed just 22 points across 2025.
Fans hoping for fireworks after Bush Hamdan and Rich Scangarello's lackluster runs are left wondering if this is the reset the program needs.
Sloan's LSU tenure ended abruptly following head coach Brian Kelly's dismissal, with the Tigers ranking last in the SEC in rushing both years under his watch, 106 yards per game in 2025 alone. A viral sideline clip from the Texas A&M loss captured Kelly's frustration: "What are you doing, Joe? You can’t throw that with no f—ing time outs."
“What are you doing, Joe? You can’t throw that with no f—ing time outs…”
— Matt Moscona (@MattMoscona) October 26, 2025
Brian Kelly was not happy with the 3rd down pass in the flat. pic.twitter.com/flK8FWt09V
LSU supporters breathed a sigh of relief at his exit, citing stagnant play-calling that couldn't harness quarterback Garrett Nussmeier's potential despite a revamped receiving corps. The Tigers scored no more than 25 points against any FBS foe this year, stop me if you heard that before. Just read some comments from the tweet below, and you will feel a little uneasy.
Sources: Kentucky is set to hire Joe Sloan as the school’s offensive coordinator. Sloan is the former OC and quarterbacks coach at LSU and spent nine years at Louisiana Tech prior to that. pic.twitter.com/u5jvD1PqIE
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 4, 2025
Joe Sloan's mixed track record now comes to Kentucky
Sloan's roots run deep in the SEC, but his promotion to play-caller exposed limitations. Before LSU, he spent nearly a decade at Louisiana Tech, rising from wide receivers coach to offensive coordinator in 2020. There, he orchestrated a balanced attack that averaged 30+ points in Conference USA play, but the step up to Power Four ball amplified the run-game woes that plagued Baton Rouge.
At Kentucky, where the Wildcats ranked outside the top 100 in scoring three of the last four years under Stoops, Sloan's scheme could bring needed passing innovation, he led the SEC's No. 2 aerial attack in 2024. Yet, without a ground game, Stein's high-octane vision from Oregon (38+ points per game) might stall early.
Recruiting could be Sloan's ace. He's a Louisiana magnet, landing blue-chippers like Trey'Dez Green for the Tigers, but poaching from Baton Rouge is notoriously tough, LSU dominates 70% of the state's top talent.
Kentucky's in-state pipeline offers a fresh start, and aligns with Stein's emphasis on development. Still, BBN's patience is thin after coordinators who couldn't crack 25 points reliably. This hire feels like a calculated risk: proven recruiter with SEC scars, but the play-calling questions loom large.
As Stein juggles Oregon's CFP run, where he'll call plays through the playoffs, Sloan's integration will be key to help steady the ship. It has been reported that while Stein's system will be in place, play calling duties will fall to the OC.
Are you excited by the hire?