The Kentucky Wildcats have never won a national championship on the gridiron. They’ve won two SEC championships in school history, but their last SEC title came in 1976.
Before that, their last SEC championship win was in 1950.
Success is just not something the Wildcats have had much of in football, and that’s a stark comparison to the basketball program. The Wildcats have won 52 conference championships in men’s basketball and eight national championships.
Don’t tell new Kentucky head coach Will Stein about the disparity in success, though. Stein believes Kentucky can win on the football field, and he believes that, in part, because the Wildcats went out and hired him as their new head coach.
Why does he think he can win big at Kentucky?
“I think because of me, to be honest,” was Stein’s response, according to KSR. “I think cause of me. I think I know what it takes. I have seen it at the highest levels. I know what it takes to recruit at this level. You just got to believe, man. You just got to put the ball down and play. There’s really nothing else to be said.”
Interestingly enough, Stein was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and he played quarterback for the Louisville Cardinals from 2008 to 2012. His father, Matt Stein, played at Kentucky, though, and the younger Stein grew up a fan of Kentucky football.
Kentucky Wildcats have a confident head coach in Will Stein
His coming back to Kentucky is a full-circle moment, and he does come with some great experience — not only as a former player but as an up-and-coming coach.
Stein spent the past few seasons as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under Dan Lanning with the Oregon Ducks. He orchestrated one of the best offenses in college football, and he believes he can get the type of player that made Oregon elite to come to Kentucky.
“Growing up a fan is great. It’s one thing. I know the players that we can get here,” Stein said. “I know we can recruit north, south and east. People come to Lexington and love it. The longer I live there, the more I am like, wow, this place is incredible. It’s got everything that you want. It’s great food, nightlife, community, university. It’s safe. Big Blue Nation. I takes some TLC. You have to go attack. You can’t sit back and wait. That’s one thing I refuse to do at Kentucky is to wait.”
Stein will get his chance to make a big impression right away, so he won’t have to wait long to get Kentucky rolling. The Wildcats play Alabama in Lexington in Week 2.
