Will Stein confident on Kentucky football rebuild: 'I know what it takes'
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Will Stein’s first trip to the podium at SEC Media Days as Kentucky football’s head coach has come and gone.
The takeaway? An exuberant amount of confidence from the former Oregon offensive coordinator as he embarks on building the Wildcats’ program back to its prominence.
“I think because of me, to be honest,” said Stein on Monday in Tampa when asked why he thought he could win big in Lexington.
“Because of me.”
Will Stein believes in his system and that he can do special things at Kentucky 🔥 @UKFootballpic.twitter.com/5TlwZKA4Vd
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) July 20, 2026
Stein, a former Louisville quarterback, has his hands full in Lexington as he tries to rebuild a Wildcats program that won just three combined games in SEC play the last two seasons under former coach Mark Stoops, while going a combined 9-15 overall the last two seasons and a combined 23-27 overall in the last four seasons.
Kentucky finished 5-7 overall and 2-6 in SEC play last season.
“I know what it takes,” Stein continued. “I have seen it at the highest levels. I know what it takes to recruit at this level. You just got to believe, man. You got to put the ball down and play. Is it going to happen overnight? I don’t know.”
While Stein has confidence in Kentucky’s long-term vision, he also understands the rebuild won’t be without challenges.
“There are going to be bumps and roads. I mentioned it in the speech. I’m prepared for tough moments and tough times. I’ve succumbed to that in our process,” Stein said. “I already do self-talk myself about, ‘All right, how can I stay neutral?’ When stuff’s bad, I can stay as neutral as possible and be very diplomatic in my approach.”
Stein’s Oregon offense was among the nation’s most productive during his three seasons in Eugene. Last season, the Ducks tied for 10th nationally in scoring offense at 36.5 points per game and ranked 17th in total offense with 452.2 yards per game.
One of Stein’s big offseason gets for his rebuild at Kentucky was getting Notre Dame quarterback Kenny Minchey, who originally committed to Nebraska, in the transfer portal.
“I know the players that we can get here. I know we can recruit north, south and east. People come to Lexington and love it. The longer I live there, the more I am like, ‘Wow, this place is incredible.’ It’s got everything that you want. You have to go attack. You can’t sit back and wait. That’s one thing I refuse to do at Kentucky is to wait.”
There is one thing Stein said he refuses to let happen in Lexington, though: sit around and wait.
“You can’t sit back and wait,” Stein said. That’s one thing I refuse to do at Kentucky is to wait.”
The Wildcats, picked to finish 14th in the USA TODAY Network SEC Preseason Poll, are set to open up the Stein Era on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 1 p.m. ET against Youngstown State.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Stein confident on Kentucky football rebuild: ‘I know what it takes’
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