The respected Oregon offensive coordinator will take over the Wildcats. Chris Pietsch / The Register-Guard via Imagn Images
Kentucky is working to finalize a deal to hire Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein as its next head coach, a source familiar with the decision told The Athletic.
Stein will replace Mark Stoops, who was officially fired Monday morning, two days after a 41-0 loss to Louisville. Stoops left Kentucky as the winningest coach in program history.
Stein, a Louisville native and former Louisville Cardinals quarterback, has spent the past three seasons at Oregon. The 36-year-old has directed one of the top offenses in the country with three different quarterbacks, including Dillon Gabriel last year with an undefeated regular season and Big Ten title, and this year with Dante Moore for an 11-1 Ducks team that will make the College Football Playoff.
While Stein went to Louisville, he grew up a big Kentucky fan and attended many Wildcats games as a kid, as his dad was a former Kentucky player.
This story will be updated.
Dec 2, 2025
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