If Will Stein's opening statement was the emotional hook, the Q&A session that followed was the knockout punch. Standing before the media for the first time as Kentucky's head coach, Stein didn't rely on coach-speak or clichés. Instead, he gave Big Blue Nation a raw, unfiltered look at exactly who is taking over this program, and it started with a realization of just how massive this job really is.
"I was floored yesterday when we landed," Stein admitted when asked about his most surprising moment so far. "I'm not kidding, there were 15 cop cars ahead of our car and 15 cop cars behind our car... I have never seen anything like that... this is a big-time gig."
That realization didn't seem to intimidate him; it energized him. In fact, Stein admitted that his first meeting with the players earlier in the day might have gotten a little too spirited. "It was great to see the players... Might have said an f-bomb or two, sorry Mitch [Barnhart], I did," he joked. "Everybody on the team I am excited to coach."
Will Stein lets everyone know what Kentucky football is about, 'If the first conversation is about money, probably not the place for you'
Stein also laid out a clear blueprint for how he intends to build this roster, and it might surprise those who think the Transfer Portal is king. "I think it all starts at the high school ranks, the first thing you have to win is Kentucky," Stein declared. "The portal is a great supplemental tool... [but] I would like to think it starts with the high school ranks."
He also touched on the NIL conversation with a refreshing perspective. While acknowledging that Kentucky is "resourced to compete," he drew a hard line in the sand regarding player priorities. "We beat recruits because we build the relationships... If the first conversation is about money, probably not the place for you... That can't be the first thing you talk about."
When the topic turned to quarterbacks, Stein's area of expertise, he dropped a stat that every high school QB in the state needs to hear. "If you are not over 70 percent [completion] in high school, what makes you think you will be over 70 percent in college?" Stein asked. He emphasized that while everyone looks at height and weight, he hunts for "mentally and physically tough" players with elite processing ability.
Stein even addressed the elephant in the room regarding his hometown and former ties to the Cardinals. "It obviously changed, there was 4 or 5 years of bad blood but that's the competitor in me," Stein said of his relationship with Louisville. "Everything happens for a reason... Now I am here at Kentucky where I always wanted to be."
He closed with a warning, or perhaps a promise, to the current roster about what comes next. "My goal is to make this the hardest off-season... It takes freaking work."
Stein confirmed that he will be bringing in the "best general manager in the country" (a nod to the reported Pat Biondo hire) and plans to treat the spring game like a real football game, not a showcase. "You know the best way to get better at football? Play football. This isn't basketball... you gotta play football."
The message was loud and clear: The honeymoon is over. It's time to work.