First-year Kentucky football head coach Will Stein and three players, tight end Willie Rodriguez, quarterback Kenny Minchey and safety Ty Bryant, headed south to Tampa (FL.) to answer questions at the 2026 SEC Media Days on Monday afternoon.
Stein, who made the move to Lexington after serving as Oregon’s offensive coordinator for the last three seasons, expressed his excitement for this upcoming season, speaking highly of his players and even dropped a quote that has since skyrocketed across all social media platforms.
We’ll get to that, but for now, let’s dive into the most important things that Stein elaborated on with the Wildcats’ first showdown of the season sitting nearly a month away.
Stein’s Comments on the Team and Chemistry
“I’m excited about this team,” Stein said. “We laid a strong foundation. The DNA we’ve built within Kentucky football centers around connection. As a coaching staff, the first thing that I had to do, that we had to do, was develop a real connection with these players. A connected team is a dangerous team. They typically play the longest, the hardest, or hardest the longest.”
“Our guys needed to get to know each other. They had to. They needed to know their coaches had real investment in them as people. They needed to feel a coaching staff that actually likes coaching with each other. That’s huge. They needed to feel connection to Big Blue Nation, to our fans, and see how passionate they are. We built a strong connection up to this point, and we will continue to grow together throughout the season.”
Stein’s Comments on Willie Rodriguez
“Really excited about his (Rodriguez’s) growth,” Stein said. “This guy is an elite player. Think he’s got the ability to be one of the best tight ends in the country. He was one of the players from last year’s roster that we had to retain. No-brainer. He can do it all. He’ll be a feature player in our system.”
“Off the field, he’s committed to community service. He’s a frequent visitor to Golisano Children’s Hospital UK, where he meets with kids in need, families in need, and sick children. Fantastic person and player. Has an extremely bright future.”
Stein’s Comments on Kenny Minchey
“Really impressed with Kenny since he got here. He’s somebody that feels like he’s been in our system for a long time. Has elite processing skills, high football IQ, very accurate, has the athletic ability to make plays with his feet.”
“He’s also a natural leader. He’s got great poise, great communication skills. This will be his first starting job. He knows that, I know that, you all know that. I know he’s going to be ready because of how he prepares in the classroom and on the field.”
Stein’s Comments on Ty Bryant
“Another player from last year’s team I had to keep,” Stein said. “Do everything I can to keep Ty Bryant. He represents Kentucky football to the fullest. It is in his DNA. Natural leader. He’s almost like a coach on the field for us.”
He added, “Kind of fun fact: our dads played together at Kentucky. So I don’t know if that’s how young I am or if that’s how old maybe Ty’s dad is. I don’t really know. Cisco, love him, glad that his son plays at Kentucky as well. Ty has a bright football future. When he’s done with football, hopefully he has a long career in the NFL. I’m sure he’ll be out there in media row working with the media.”
Stein’s Comment That Went Viral
Will Stein was asked why he thinks that he has what it takes to win at Kentucky, given all the years of narratives and adversity that the program has seen time and time again.
His answer was a testament to the confidence and self-belief that he endures, breaking historical standards placed on the football program he’s now inherited.
“This is going to sound, like, really (cocky)… I think because of me, to be honest. I think ’cause of me,” Stein said.
That’s the part that you may have seen across social media, but there was more effort and explanation built into the original statement.
“I think I know what it takes. I have seen it at the highest levels. I know what it takes to recruit at this level. You just got to believe, man. You just got to put the ball down and play. There’s really nothing else to be said. Is it going to happen overnight? I don’t know. I really don’t. If I had a crystal ball, everybody in this room would be really, really rich now. The best determination of what you’re doing is working is putting the ball down and playing football. There’s going to be bumps in the road. I mentioned it in the speech. I am prepared for tough moments and tough times. I’m succumbed to that in our process, right? I already do self-talk myself about how can I stay neutral. When stuff is bad, I can stay as neutral as possible and be very diplomatic in my approach.That’s why. Growing up a fan is great. It’s one thing. I know the players that we can get here. I know we can recruit north, south and east. People come to Lexington, and love it. The longer I live there, the more I am like, wow, this place is incredible. It’s got everything that you want. It’s great food, nightlife, community, university. It’s safe. Big Blue Nation. I takes some TLC. You have to go attack. You can’t sit back and wait. That’s one thing I refuse to do at Kentucky is to wait. I’m really excited about our administration, the direction that it’s going. Again, I said I was so fired up that Mitch brought me here. I’m also excited about what the future holds. That’s why I’m excited. That’s why I believe. Or else I wouldn’t have taken the job. I would have stayed at Oregon, coached Dante (Moore), stayed out there.”
According to UK Athletics, Kentucky’s football program all-time has a record of 652-662, which is a 49.6% win rate. Will Stein, a Louisville native who grew up watching the Wildcats in Commonwealth Stadium, knows the exact ship he’s taking over and it’s clear he isn’t letting the weight of the past prevent him from chasing it all while in Lexington.
We will get to see all of Will Stein’s visions come to life on Saturday, Sept. 5, when Kentucky kicks off its 2026 campaign against the Youngstown State Penguins of the Missouri Valley Conference at Kroger Field. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET.
If you enjoyed this story, follow us on social media for more Kentucky coverage, breaking news, and analysis delivered as it all unfolds. Over 150,000+ already do! We’re on Facebook, X/Twitter, TikTok, and more. Go Cats!
Leave a Reply