New UK football coach Will Stein leaning on Oregon coach Dan Lanning’s mentorship
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Will Stein assumes Kentucky head coach duties while remaining Oregon coordinator
- Stein pledges to lean on Dan Lanning for guidance during his transition
- Lanning shares career-transition model from Georgia to Oregon and bowl success
New Kentucky football coach Will Stein’s first day on the job came at the busiest time it possibly could.
Since the UK Athletics announcement of his hiring on Monday night, Stein became a man of two jobs — the 38th head coach in the history of Kentucky football and still the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Oregon, a position he’s held for the past three seasons.
Amid all the chaos, Stein is relying heavily on his boss in Eugene, Dan Lanning, who has coached the Ducks (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten) to a spot in this year’s forthcoming College Football Playoff.
During his introductory press conference Wednesday, Stein spoke highly of Lanning and said multiple times that he was grateful for not only how Lanning has poured into him thus far but also for how he knows Lanning will continue to pour into him for the rest of his life.
“I really am a product of good coaches in my life,” Stein said. “...Dan Lanning, and my training with him, has been a phenomenal resource for me to be prepared for this job and what’s to come.”
Stein said Lanning has taught him a lot about recruiting, relationships and championship-level football, but it’s the Oregon coach’s experience in career transitions that will come in handy for the immediate future.
Years ago, Lanning found himself in a position similar to the one Stein is in now, when Lanning — then the defensive coordinator at Georgia — was offered the position as Oregon’s head coach in December 2021.
The Bulldogs lost just one game that season, a 41-24 tilt to rival Alabama in the SEC Championship Game, and Lanning was announced as the Ducks’ new head coach seven days later.
Oregon would be Lanning’s first-ever head coaching gig, and he’d be tasked with taking on the responsibilities of leading the Ducks while also finishing what he’d started with the Bulldogs. And he did, successfully helping Georgia to a 34-11 Orange Bowl win over Michigan on New Year’s Eve and a 33-18 victory over the Crimson Tide in the College Football national championship .Jan. 10.
When asked if he’d be leaning on Lanning’s experience, Stein didn’t even wait for the question to finish; he simply said “100%.”
“Dan is, he’s been phenomenal,” Stein said. “I mean, talk about just an amazing person, human, supporter, innovative. He’s taught me so much, and he’s been 100% in support of this. And it’s been really cool to see. He’s somebody that I’m gonna lean on while I’m here. He’s leaned on his mentors throughout his process, and he’ll be the first one to tell you he’s growth-mindset oriented, and he’s always gonna try to get better.
“So I’m gonna use Dan as long as I live. As long as he wants to answer my calls. Because he means that much to me. It’s cool that he’s done this.”
