Will Stein is currently giving a masterclass in Lexington on how to build a new foundation for a new era.
The new Kentucky football head coach successfully navigated his first spring game, bringing his squad off the rain and field with no reported injuries. He also hosted a large group of high-profile prospects on campus, successfully securing a pledge from a four-star safety. And, to top it off, the squad looked excellent on the field.
However, it wasn’t simply what Stein did over the weekend that got BBN excited; it was what he said the following day. Speaking to the media, the Cats’ head coach stated unequivocally that the benchmark in Lexington has shifted.
Shifting the mentality
Kentucky Football has struggled for years to overcome the impression that it is a basketball school that is merely attempting to live in a football conference. Fans will painfully remember the ‘Cal vs. Stoops’ drama, but Stein is absolutely dismissing that concept.
This is a serious program. I don’t care what others say; this is a big-time program. This is the University of Kentucky. “This is the SEC,” Stein said forcefully in a radio interview on Wildcat Drive.
He did not end there, though, immediately putting his own track record on the table to establish the standard for his locker room. “I’m used to winning. It’s not an act; it’s who we are and what we expect. ” Stein is here to win, not to talk, and he expects to succeed. Sure, you would expect a coach to say that, but our previous one did not. It feels good.
A CEO approach
When you take over as a SEC head coach, you realize that you can no longer micromanage only one side of the ball. Stein possesses an exceptional offensive intellect, yet he realizes that his role encompasses more than just offense.
Stein emphasized the value of the aforementioned spring scrimmage for his team and roster as he discussed the move to head coach. “It was really about exposing our players to that atmosphere for the first time… ” There is worry among youngsters, and there is worry among coaches. “The human component of playing football is real. “
To manage the anxious component, Stein is taking a step back and looking at the larger picture. “I want to be the best head coach in the country, not the best play-calling coach in the country,” Stein said. “To be the greatest head coach, you must supervise the whole program. “
Packed Kroger Field in the Spring.
Stein is establishing a culture of strong expectations and fair results. He’s not simply blaming his players; he’s also pointing the finger at the supporters.
“I left the spring very encouraged with where we are right now, but we still have a lot of work to do,” Stein said, before issuing a significant challenge to the BBN. “Two years from now, let’s have 60,000 people in our stadium for our 2028 spring game. “
It is an ambitious goal, but Big Blue Nation has continually demonstrated its support for football in spades, even when times are rough. If Stein can back up his bold claims with real SEC victories this fall, he may not have to wait until 2028 to see 60,000 people flood the stadium early.
