Overview
- At his first news conference, the 36-year-old vowed to “light up the scoreboard,” set winning “now” as the goal, and will coach Oregon through the postseason.
- Athletic director Mitch Barnhart said Kentucky is increasing financial support and plans to hire a general manager to bolster recruiting in the NIL era.
- Early signing day delivered initial momentum, with UK listing eight signees including quarterback Matt Ponatoski as Stein begins re-recruiting current players.
- Staffing has begun, with former UTSA offensive coordinator Justin Burke reported as the first hire, and a new defensive coordinator is needed after Brad White left for Florida.
- Contract terms have not been released, though multiple outlets report a five-year deal for Stein, and UK owes Mark Stoops about $37.69 million under his buyout.