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LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Will Stein has made an immediate impact in his inaugural season as Kentucky's head coach, returning to his home state and delivering significant victories right out of the gate.
Under Stein's leadership, the No. 15 Wildcats have surged to a 5-1 start, marking the finest record for a first-year Kentucky coach since Alpha Brumage opened his tenure with five wins in six games back in 1913.
Stein has orchestrated upset victories over top-10 teams, including a road triumph at Texas A&M and an overtime thriller against then-No. 10 LSU last weekend, which sent fans rushing onto the field in jubilation.
The new coach has swiftly cultivated a sense of confidence and expectation that Lexington hasn't witnessed since Hal Mumme's Air Raid offense arrived in 1996.
"We expect to win every single game no matter the opponent, no matter the logo, no matter what players they have on their team; we expect to win every single game," Stein said. "We practice that way and we play that way."
The lone setback came in a 45-17 loss to then-No. 12 Alabama in the Southeastern Conference opener, where the Wildcats faltered in the second half.
Since that defeat, Kentucky has rattled off four consecutive wins, including back-to-back overtime victories over South Carolina and LSU by a single point — a 35-34 scoreline that CBS Sports reported had never occurred before — with Stein sealing both wins via two-point conversions, adding to the sense that a special season is unfolding.
The thrill factor has been undeniable: Kentucky's three conference wins have come by a combined margin of just 12 points.
"That's the SEC," Stein said. "It's the closest thing to the NFL. It comes down to the last plays and the last possessions."
Stein, who celebrated his 37th birthday last month, is off to a remarkable start in his first head coaching role after spending the previous three seasons as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Oregon.
A Louisville native, Stein won three Kentucky high school state titles and walked on at Louisville as a quarterback. His coaching journey included an unconventional stop at Lake Travis High School in Texas to gain play-calling experience.
Now he's back at Kentucky, where his father, Matt, once played and the family held stadium seats in section 128, row 13.
Kentucky already boasts three SEC victories and is tied with Alabama for second in the league standings ahead of Saturday's game at Oklahoma.
The Wildcats are one win away from securing bowl eligibility for the first time in three years and have already matched last season's total win count.
Stein is the first UK coach to start league play at 3-1.
Stein attributes the success to his players' willingness to embrace the team's schemes. One of the reasons Kentucky hired him was his work as Oregon's offensive coordinator and his reputation as one of college football's premier offensive minds.
His core philosophy is dubbed "feed the studs." Before the season opener, Stein felt the team had enough talent, enough players, and full buy-in from the group to perform at a high level.
The Wildcats have done exactly that, and Stein believes the results speak for themselves.
"I'm very confident in our team because I see them practice all the time," Stein said. "I see them make plays. I've been through six games with them now. I think we can continue to improve and get better. There's plenty of things we have to clean up from (the LSU game). We just battled and kept playing hard and that's the sign of a team that really loves each other and is bought into the process."
Despite the success, the Wildcats have played with a chip on their shoulders, competing with something to prove each week.
"Nobody believes in us except us, honestly, that's the way we look at it, and that's the best part about it," said running back C.J. Baxter, a Texas transfer. "The way we approach everything: games, practices, meetings, everything, you can just see it from everybody in the facility."
That belief stems from Stein, who has shown he isn't afraid to take risks.
"I think it's just always about his trust in us, his confidence, his swagger that he carries himself with, and he carries our team with," quarterback Kenny Minchey said. "I feel like there was no surprise last weekend going for two (at South Carolina). We're here to win ballgames."
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Originally reported by yourvalley_net.