Kentucky Football Speeds Up Under New Coach Will Stein

Stein brings high-energy Oregon techniques to transform Wildcats in spring practices

Apr. 17, 2026 at 8:15pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the chaotic energy of a high-intensity football practice, with players, coaches, and equipment fractured into overlapping planes of vibrant blue, green, and gold colors.Kentucky's new high-energy football practices under coach Will Stein aim to transform the program with an up-tempo, aggressive style.Lexington Today

New Kentucky football head coach Will Stein has used his first spring practices to dramatically speed up the tempo and intensity of the team's workouts, drawing on techniques he learned during his time at Oregon. The result has been grueling practices with few breaks, giving fans a preview of the high-energy style Stein plans to bring to the Wildcats in his debut season.

Why it matters

After several lackluster seasons, Kentucky is hoping Stein's fast-paced approach can inject new life into the program and help the Wildcats become more competitive in the SEC. Stein's experience at Oregon, known for its up-tempo offense, is seen as a key asset in his efforts to transform Kentucky's culture and playing style.

The details

Stein has implemented a practice regimen with minimal downtime, keeping players constantly moving and working on both individual skills and team drills. Fans will get their first look at the new-look Wildcats during the team's spring game on Saturday.

  • Stein was hired as Kentucky's new head coach in December 2025.
  • Spring practices for the 2026 season began in March 2026.

The players

Will Stein

The new head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats football team, hired in December 2025 after serving as an assistant coach at the University of Oregon.

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What they’re saying

“I've seen it done the right way for a long time - over my entire career.”

— Will Stein, Head Coach, Kentucky Wildcats

What’s next

Fans will get their first chance to see Stein's high-energy approach in action during Kentucky's annual spring game on April 22, 2026.

The takeaway

Stein's fast-paced coaching style, honed during his time at Oregon, represents a dramatic shift for Kentucky football as the program looks to become more competitive in the SEC under new leadership.