Reports: Kentucky to hire Oregon OC Will Stein

Kentucky didn't take long to find its replacement for the recently fired Mark Stoops, as multiple outlets reported Monday that the Wildcats are set to tab Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein as their next head coach.

Stein, 36, has Kentucky roots, having been born in Louisville to two University of Kentucky graduates before going on to quarterback the Louisville Cardinals from 2008-12.

That's where his coaching career began as a grad assistant and then quarterbacks coach in 2013-14. His path took him through the state of Texas before he served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Dan Lanning's Oregon Ducks the past three seasons.

Under Stein's tutelage, the Ducks have been one of the top offenses in the nation, producing quarterbacks Bo Nix, Dillon Gabriel and Dante Moore in that time.

Per ESPN, Stein is expected to coordinate Oregon's offense throughout its expected College Football Playoff appearance.

Stoops, 58, was relieved of duties on Sunday, following a 13-year run that provided Kentucky unprecedented football success. While he finished a modest 82-80, Stoops nevertheless elevated Kentucky to eight straight bowl games and a pair of 10-win seasons, just the third and fourth 10-plus win seasons in Kentucky history.

The Wildcats were 5-7 in 2025, their second straight losing season.

--Field Level Media