Matt Stein, left, applauds after his son Will was officially introduced as UK's new football coach. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Matt Stein has always taken the approach that whatever decisions his son, William, made about his coaching future was “none of my business.” However, the former University of Kentucky defensive lineman certainly was happy that his son decided to leave Oregon where he was offensive coordinator to become the head football coach at Kentucky.
“It’s just surreal how this all worked out,” said Matt Stein, a Louisville attorney. “It has been crazy in a good way. Somebody asked me before this even got thought about what William (his parents call him William) was going to do and if he had goals. I told them to stop. I said he is a grown man and whatever he does is between him, his wife Darby and their agent. He’s always been a great decision maker, so I leave all those career choices to him and his wife.”
Will Stein grew up a Kentucky fan and even though he was a quarterback at Louisville, he’s always been passionate for Kentucky sports. His parents had UK football and basketball season tickets. He attended Tubby Smith’s basketball camp. His parents had a poster of UK basketball star DeMarcus Cousins hanging in their house.
“When I got a call from him that he was coming to Kentucky, we both had tears of joy. It was just an overwhelming moment. He asked me to keep it quiet until it was officially announced and that was hard because my phone started blowing up even before it became official,” Matt Stein said.
His son flew into Louisville on a private plane with UK officials and got a police escort. Will Stein was recognized at the UK-North Carolina basketball game and did the “Y” to a huge ovation. The UK cheerleaders and band were at his introductory press conference along with former UK players, current players and numerous fans.
“I don’t know how to explain what it was like. It was kind of like watching Elvis (Presley) walk into a building. That’s my only reference point is Elvis or some famous movie star. Or maybe the king and queen of England. That took it all to the next level of craziness,” Matt Stein said. “I have never been a personal witness to anything like this and never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine this happening.
“When they rolled into the football complex, they had 15 police cars as part of the motorcade. Inside the facility, there were 50-plus people waiting and watching for somebody famous to walk in and it was my son. I just was not expecting all that.”
Matt Stein played defensive end at Kentucky in the 1980s under Jerry Claiborne. He was on the Kentucky team that won 17-12 at Tennessee in 1984 (Kentucky did not beat Tennessee again until 2011 and did not win again at Tennessee until 2020). Matt Stein got his only UK touchdown in 1984 in a 30-26 win over Tulane in New Orleans when he recovered a muffed punt in the end zone.
“I still remember the moment I got a scholarship (after coming to UK as a walk-on). That was a surreal moment,” Matt Stein said. “I didn’t get home much. I didn’t have a car and still remember telling my parents how surreal it was sitting in the meeting room and there was Jerry Claiborne right in front of me. Coach Claiborne was a big deal. I had always been into football and started playing in third grade but that moment when I got a scholarship from coach Claiborne was something I will never forget.”
The former UK defensive lineman is confident his son is not only ready for this job but more than capable of doing it successfully.
“He is so driven. He has the right mentality to work 16 to 18 hours a day, seven days a week. He’s okay doing that. He has the most wonderful wife (Darby) who gets that. I knew when he first met her and brought her around us she was perfect to be a coach’s wife,” Matt Stein said.
Kirk Carruthers, an All-American linebacker at Florida State who had 435 tackles in his career, is her mom’s brother and her uncle.
“She knows her football and is a great support for William because she understands the demands a coach faces,” Matt Stein said.
Going into the college football playoffs, Stein has coached 40 games as Oregon’s offensive coordinator and the Ducks scored 20 or more points in 38 of those games and had 30 or more points 32 times. Only twice in 40 games did Oregon have less than 300 total yards and it has 29 games with more than 400 yards. The Ducks also had three or more passing touchdowns in 18 of the 40 games.
“He is a great decision maker and is really efficient. He doesn’t have to keep going over stuff,” Matt Stein said. “I have no doubt he’ll handle this next month well coaching at Oregon and getting things ready at Kentucky. If he has to work 24 hours a day, he’ll do it. He is really good about delegating. He will not micromanage people. He gives them a job and they know they better do it.
“He is really loyal to people who have the same mindset he has as far as being willing to start from the bottom and work their way up. If you do that, he is your best friend.”
2 Responses
I do wish we had Stein on board full time as I feel that a more positive impact on coaching vetting and hiring and player recruitment. Must give him credit though for wanting seel thru what he has built there and a credit to them to want to keep him there. Trusting he is very comfortable with his hires. It is the buddie system in full view and a heavy UTSA lean. Can't wait to see how we do in the Portal.
I respect that he's finishing what he started. Other coaches that left there respected teams should take notes. The most beautiful part is he isn't the head coach of Oregon and he is still staying. That shows me that he's committed to the end regardless. I think he is going to do great things here. Anyway I can help I will. Will Stein is a very familiar name here in Louisville. I remember when he played for Trinity he has always been a winner. If he would have been even 2-3"s taller everyone would remember him for his playing days. He was to small to see over the line so he would have to scramble out to see the field but he had a heck of a arm and he would leave it all on the field which means he's wasnt sliding. Stein is a great football mind. I think he will be even better as a head coach because he isn't defined by just his offensive knowledge he's a student of the game. He's been playing since he was 4-5 years old. He grew up on a football field. I think he's the perfect coach to take Kentucky to the next level that Stoops couldn't take us too. I think we can be a playoff team by 2027. This year will be a great learning experience for him. I think we have the right core players if Stein can get them all to mostly come back we should have a decent year next year. I think any bowl game is a success next year because we havent been to one the last couple years. I think if he can get us to a bowl game with a 9 game SEC schedule we have a chance to have a very special season in 2027. If Cutter Boley comes back and he improves and gets better every practice he should be around a 70% passer and slightly over 3,000 yards in 2026. Something Stoops never did produce a QB to throw for 3,000 yards or more. If he can throw over 25 TD passes and cut his Ints down to less than 8 he should have a good sophomore year next year with the last couple games he starts going off every game. Look out in 2027 and 2028. His junior and senior year will be very special. Ponatoski is here if he stumbles. I think Ponatoski will be a better QB than Boley. Boley has 2 years playing experience over him but I think in 2027 or 2028 Ponatoski will catch up and pass Boley. Unless Boley does what I say. If Boley has a big year in 2026, we might only have him one more year for 2027 then I can see him go to the NFL as a Redshirt Junior.
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