It is common practice when changing coaches to hire one who presents a radically different approach than the coach who was fired.
For Kentucky football, that meant hiring a hot shot offensive coordinator from a powerhouse program after 13 years under the lead of defensive-minded Mark Stoops. Will Stein was hired specifically to bring a more exciting brand of offense to Lexington.
But fans do not need to wait until the 2026 season to start to see noticeable differences in the program.
“It’s a lot different coaching styles, for sure,” returning linebacker Grant Godfrey said. “Coach Stein is coming from Oregon, so our practices are a lot higher pace, no breaks.
“Unlike the last coaching staff, we have no breaks.”
As Kentucky opened spring practice earlier this month, it was apparent there would be changes to the practice format common during Stoops’ tenure. The change that drew the most attention was Stein’s abandonment of a traditional depth chart, instead choosing to split the roster into two different teams each week with a mix of projected starters and backups on each squad.
But when returning players were made available for interviews for the first time since the coaching change, it was the lack of practice breaks that they said was the most noticeable difference.
Returning Kentucky players say there is one big change in Will Stein's practices
For Kentucky football, that meant hiring a hot shot offensive coordinator from a powerhouse program after 13 years under the lead of defensive-minded Mark Stoops. Will Stein was hired specifically to bring a more exciting brand of offense to Lexington.
But fans do not need to wait until the 2026 season to start to see noticeable differences in the program.
“It’s a lot different coaching styles, for sure,” returning linebacker Grant Godfrey said. “Coach Stein is coming from Oregon, so our practices are a lot higher pace, no breaks.
“Unlike the last coaching staff, we have no breaks.”
As Kentucky opened spring practice earlier this month, it was apparent there would be changes to the practice format common during Stoops’ tenure. The change that drew the most attention was Stein’s abandonment of a traditional depth chart, instead choosing to split the roster into two different teams each week with a mix of projected starters and backups on each squad.
But when returning players were made available for interviews for the first time since the coaching change, it was the lack of practice breaks that they said was the most noticeable difference.
Returning Kentucky players say there is one big change in Will Stein's practices