As the dust settles on the hiring of Will Stein, the immediate question for every Kentucky football fan has been: Who is going to run the offense? We know Stein is an offensive guru, but a head coach cannot do it all alone. When we hear Stein speak later today, we will likely get clarification on who will be calling the plays on Saturdays. But for now, reports indicate he is making a hire that will make local high school football historians smile.
According to TexasFootball.com, former Lexington Catholic star Justin Burke is set to be part of Will Stein’s staff. Burke is currently the offensive coordinator at UTSA, where he has been the architect of a high-flying attack. His unit averaged 33 points and 413 yards per game this season. Bringing a local product home who also happens to oversee a modern, high-octane offense? That is a massive win for the new regime and a clear signal that the conservative era is dead.
Will Stein needs a second voice in the room, he gets that with Justin Burke
Stein is known for his elite play-calling and his willingness to adapt his scheme from game to game. However, being a head coach in the SEC is a different animal than being a coordinator in the Big Ten. The administrative duties, recruiting, and game management can be overwhelming. He may decide that the mental load of calling plays is too much to manage alone.
Having someone like Burke, who runs a nearly identical system with the same core concepts, will be invaluable. Even if Stein does decide that play-calling is for him, having a "right-hand man" in the booth or on the sideline who speaks his exact language is paramount for a young staff seeking to imprint themselves on the national scene.
BBN is ready and so is Will Stein. This isn't just about hiring a friend or a local guy for PR points; it's about hiring alignment. Burke knows the area, he knows the system, and he knows how to put points on the board. After years of watching a "ground and pound" approach that often felt like pulling teeth, the idea of an offensive brain trust involving Stein and Burke is genuinely exciting. Now, eyes turn to the defensive coordinator spot after Brad White has left for Florida.