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Will Stein echoed Curt Cignetti during SEC Media Days.
Curt Cignetti won a national championship in his first season with Indiana. He was confident in his coaching abilities from the jump.
Kentucky’s Will Stein believes he can provide a similar rise in Lexington. If unable to do so, he will become the butt of jokes.
Similar to the Hoosiers, the Wildcats are far more recognized for their achievements on the hardwood than the gridiron. The football team often finds itself in the cellar of the SEC standings. They’re a doormat more times than not in the fall.
That was again the case in 2025. Kentucky finished 2-6 in league play. They’ve won just four of their last 24 conference matchups.
It led to Mark Stoops’ firing in the offseason. Stein looks to lead a quick turnaround.
Will Stein talks Kentucky football.
The new coach, who was most recently the offensive coordinator at Oregon, spoke at SEC Media Days on Monday. He believes he’s the right man for the job.
The former Louisville quarterback was asked about his plan to shift the narrative. His response exuded moxie.
@secnetwork #Kentucky head coach Will Stein on turning the program around. #collegefootball #sports
“(We can win big here) Because of me, to be honest,” Stein replied to a question about success. “Because of me. I know what it takes. I’ve seen it at the highest levels. I know what it takes to recruit at this level. You just gotta believe.”
That response was very similar to Curt Cignetti’s “Google me” quip at his intro presser in Bloomington. It is exactly what Kentucky football fans want to hear.
The coach is confident. He’s a been successful at previous stops. Stein is viewed as a major riser in the world of coaching.
He could’ve stuck around in Oregon to coach potential No. 1 NFL Draft pick Dante Moore. He instead jumped at the opportunity to be a head coach. It will be a challenge.
Can Stein back it up?
Cignetti took little time proving his confidence right. In two years, he’s made back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances and brought home the school’s lone national title.
Indiana was one of college football’s losingest programs before Cignetti took over. Kentucky is another team in that bunch.
Stein doesn’t care for the perception. He does not believe it will hold him back. If he fails, though, he’s provided rivals with ammunition.
“This will be either his first defining moment or his biggest regret,” wrote one fan on social media.
While much of the situation mirrors that of Indiana, there is one major piece missing from Stein’s resume. Experience at the head coaching level.
Cignetti got his feet wet in Division II at IUP before moving onto Elon, and then James Madison where he was the Sun Belt Coach of the Year. Stein has never been “the guy.”
That hasn’t changed his outlook. He expects to win big at Kentucky. We’ll soon see if he can flip the script in Lexington.