Will Stein spoke with the clarity of a coach fully present, even as his future as the next head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats edges closer.
Stein opened by praising the consistency of Jeremiah McClellan, calling him “very dependable,” noting that he “runs great routes” and is “physical in the blocking game.” Malik (Benson), he added, has “obviously been a home run hit for us.”
What mattered more to Stein, though, was how they got there. “It’s so hard in today’s age where there’s so many outside factors,” he said. “The guys that just stick to it, trust their coaches, trust the scheme, and you see what happens.”
That trust shows up in how Stein describes Oregon’s offense. Injuries forced adjustments. Personnel blurred. “You’ve got to compromise. You’ve got to be adaptable,” he said. “Can you get the best 11 on the field to give you the best chance of moving the football and scoring?”
When the topic turned to Jay Harris, Stein told a developmental story rooted in patience. “When he got here from D-II, he barely knew the plays,” Stein said. “Then I think you really saw him start to flourish.” Now, Stein calls Harris “an exceptional back” who “can really catch the ball” and is “at a spot now to really flourish given the opportunity.”
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Fatigue eventually came up. Stein didn’t pretend it wasn’t real. “This is a long freaking season,” he said. “Everybody is tired. Everybody is cranky at times.” But the separator, he explained, is resilience. “It’s the people that can handle the chaos the best are the people that succeed the most in our sport right now.”
For now, Stein remains locked in with the Oregon Ducks. Soon, that same voice and blueprint will shape the next chapter for the Kentucky Wildcats.
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