The new era of Kentucky football has officially touched down in the Bluegrass, and if the first 24 hours are any indication, the energy is going to be completely different. Will Stein arrived in Lexington today with his family and immediately went to work. After landing, he headed straight to the facility to speak with the current roster before making an appearance at the UNC basketball game. Sorry, Coach, that slog-fest loss was your first experience at Rupp, but at least the atmosphere was electric when you walked onto the floor and pumped up the crowd.
Doing The "Y" - Bringing the energy!@CoachWillStein x @KentuckyMBB x @Rupp_Arena pic.twitter.com/nRhPtado5U
— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) December 3, 2025
However, the most important moment happened behind closed doors with the football team. In the age of social media, nothing stays secret for long, and details of his first meeting have already emerged. When speaking in front of the team, Stein didn't try to play it cool or act like a corporate CEO. He let his passion spill over.
Will Stein has officially shifted the energy in Lexington
He told the players: 'I am so passionate about this game, about coaching, about this University. This is a dream freaking come true for me.'
Read that again. "A dream freaking come true." That is the type of authentic enthusiasm this program has been starving for. There are still major unknowns ahead: which recruits are staying, which are flipping, who is entering the Transfer Portal, and who is leaving. Those are questions for another day. For right now, the message is clear: Will Stein is officially here, he wants to be here, and he wants players who match his intensity to be a part of it.
As Kentucky did for Mark Pope when he was introduced as head coach of the Wildcats last spring, Stein’s press conference will be open to the public this week. It is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 4 p.m. ET with doors opening at 3 p.m. ET. The introduction will take place at Nutter Field House with the entrance located near Gate 1. Parking will be available all around Kroger Field, so get there early.
We will have live coverage on our Facebook page, so if you can't make it out, we will be covering it and bringing you all the news as it happens. This is the start of a new era, and judging by his first words, the vibe is going to be electric.