Kentucky Wildcats Recruiting Big with Will Stein

Kentucky Wildcats are gearing up for a strong season with new head coach Will Stein, who has already made a significant impact on recruiting.

What's behind Stein's success?

Stein's coaching pedigree and experience as an offensive play-caller have been major draws for top recruits, including quarterback Kenny Minchey.

Minchey transferred to Kentucky, citing Stein's coaching ability as a primary reason for his decision.

How has Stein affected recruiting?

Stein has helped secure a top-10 transfer portal class and high-profile high school commits, including Minchey, who chose Kentucky over other top programs.

The scoreboard shows 3,495 points scored — 582.5 points per season, across three levels — in Stein’s six seasons as an offensive play-caller.

What's next for the Wildcats?

The Kentucky Wildcats will face Youngstown State Penguins on September 5, 2026, in their next game.

And with Stein at the helm, the team is looking to make a strong push against SEC powers.

But Stein knows that winning in the SEC won't be easy, and he's been doing his background research to ensure the team has the resources to succeed.

So, he called people around the program that have coached here, that have been a part of this place, to get a better understanding of what it takes to win.

Why did Minchey choose Kentucky?

Minchey believes he earned Notre Dame’s starting quarterback job going into the 2025 season, but chose Kentucky for the chance to play in the SEC and work with Stein and Wildcats offensive coordinator Joe Sloan.

Minchey told USA TODAY Sports that Stein's coaching pedigree was his top priority when making his decision.

The chance to play in the SEC and work with top coaches was too good to pass up, even with other top programs offering more money.