He will be stepping in for former head coach Mark Stoops, who Kentucky was dismissed after ending the season with a 5-7 record. This will be Stein's first role as a head coach.

Before becoming Oregon'soffensive coordinator in 2022, Stein joined UTSA (University of Texas San Antonio) in 2019 as the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach, later advancing to co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Unlike his predecessor, Stoops has extensive experience as a head coach.

He had served as the Wildcats' head coach since his hiring in 2013. Over 13 years, Kentucky achieved seven winning seasons, with 2018 and 2021 being the only years with at least 10 victories.

However, in 2021, the NCAA vacated the program's 10 wins after investigations revealed that 11 players were compensated for work they did not perform, with reports indicating the players received "impermissible benefits."

Therefore, officially, the Wildcats only have one season with double-digit wins during Stoops' time as head coach.