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· collected 2026-08-20 · by Keith Taylor The Associated Press
The article reports on Will Stein, the new coach of Kentucky's football team, who has been tasked with turning around a program that had two straight losing seasons under previous coach Mark Stoops. Stein has deep roots in the state of Kentucky and was introduced as the new head coach after being Oregon's offensive coordinator. The Wildcats have only six starters returning from last season, but Stein is hopeful about the team's potential to compete for championships with new arrivals such as quarterback Kenny Minchey and several transfers on defense. With a 5-7 record in 2025, expectations are low, but Stein is focused on mastering the "mundane" aspects of the game to build towards future success.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-20,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Will Stein, Kentucky's new coach, has taken over after Mark Stoops was fired after 13 years, including two straight losing seasons with an overall record of 5-7 in 2025. Stein comes from Oregon, where he was the offensive coordinator, and his family has ties to Kentucky - his father Matt played for the school from 1982-84. Stein's goal is to move the Wildcats out of the SEC's lower ranks into at least the middle of the pack, a challenging task given the start of a nine-game league schedule this season. This marks a new era for the program, which had been led by Stoops since 2013 and boasted eight consecutive bowl berths during his tenure.
Written for “Kentucky Football Coaching Change” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
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No political leaning scored for article 1636 · logged 2026-08-31
For the first time in more than a decade, Kentucky has a new coach with deep roots in the Bluegrass State.
asserted
Kentucky → have → State
“I think I know what it takes.
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it → think → what
I have seen it at the highest levels,” said Stein, who was Oregon’s offensive coordinator when hired last December.
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who → see → levels
Kentucky fired Mark Stoops after 13 years capped by two straight losing seasons that overshadowed the program’s all-time winningest coach with an unprecedented eight straight bowl berths.
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that → fire → berths
Going 3-13 in the Southeastern Conference was too much to overcome for the league’s longest-tenured coach.
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Going → go → coach
Stein’s father, Matt, played at Kentucky between 1982-84, and the new coach played at Louisville.
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coach → play → Louisville
After being introduced by Kentucky, Stein helped Oregon reach the College Football Playoff semifinals.
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Oregon → introduce → semifinals
His first task will be pulling the Wildcats out of the SEC’s lower ranks at least to the middle of the pack.
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task → pull → pack
It won’t be easy with the SEC starting its nine-game league schedule this season.
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SEC → start → schedule
This is the start of a process with the eventual goal competing for championships, even if the Wildcats aren’t talking about that.
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Wildcats → compete → that
“It’s not that it’s just a hidden message,” Stein said.
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Stein → ’ → ?
“We obviously have goals and aspirations, but you have to master the mundane, the little things every single day to even give yourself a chance at those moments.”
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you → have → moments
Strengths will depend on new arrivals stepping up
Kentucky has just six starters back from last season, which forced Stein to scour the transfer portal as he multi-tasked coaching at Oregon.
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he → depend → Oregon
Stein does have tight end Willie Rodriguez back as an experienced blocker and receiver.
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Stein → have → blocker
It’s why Stein landed quarterback Kenny Minchey who spent the past three seasons at Notre Dame.
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who → ’ → Dame
“Very impressed with his football IQ, his intelligence, leadership, his poise,” Stein said.
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Stein → say → IQ
“Ultimately the intangibles of playing the position, he’s very accurate.
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he → play → position
The Wildcats have five starters back on defense led by defensive backs Ty Bryant and Terhyon Nichols.
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Wildcats → have → Bryant
Defensive backs Aaron Gates and Jordan Castell, who transferred from Florida, are expected to make an immediate impact.
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who → transfer → impact
Weaknesses include getting and staying healthy
Staying healthy is the Wildcats’ biggest weakness.
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Staying → include → ?
Running backs CJ Baxter and Jovantae Barnes along with wide receiver Nick Anderson had injuries at their previous schools as they reboot their careers with the Wildcats.
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they → have → Wildcats
Kentucky has 45 new players on the roster, including more than 30 through the transfer portal, after losing 22 players.
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Kentucky → have → players
