12 hours ago
After 13 years, the relationship between Mark Stoops and Kentucky had grown stale. Now, Will Stein is not only bringing a fresh voice to the Wildcats but also modernizing the program.
This modernization takes various forms. One early sign was the restructuring of the coaching staff, replacing analyst roles with assistant position coaches who actively participate in recruiting. Kentucky football fans can witness Stein’s modern approach whenever practice highlights are shared.
“Is that a GoPro on Kenny Minchey’s head?” Yes, it is. Previously, coaches used helmet stripes to analyze what a quarterback was seeing during plays. This new technology goes further than that.
“You get everything from their perspective,” offensive coordinator Joe Sloan explained. “You can see their eyes—how efficiently they move them. Is their head steady or bouncing around? It also records audio, which is valuable for line-of-scrimmage communication. Players can hear themselves, assess their volume, clarity, and conciseness.”
Connection is Will Stein’s core philosophy for the Kentucky football program. They use technology to evaluate how well their signal caller communicates with teammates.
Kentucky Uses a Modern Jugs Machine
Before moving to Lexington, Will Stein brought a Monarc Seeker to Nutter Field House. Unlike traditional stationary jug machines, which deliver passes to the same spot repeatedly, this machine offers dynamic and varied throws.
“Man, it’s great. I’m not gonna lie,” said wide receiver Nic Anderson. “It’s amazing, especially with the equipment managers we have here who run it for us. The ball rarely goes to the same spot twice, so rapid, varied throws are huge for receivers.”
The Monarc Seeker also helps receivers work on route-running. An equipment manager programs the routes and passes a player wants to practice, and the machine delivers the ball precisely where needed. It can throw accurate crossing routes, high deep balls, or back-shoulder fades, maximizing on-field productivity. Wide receivers coach Joe Price elaborates on the machine’s benefits.
Will Stein is leveraging every technological advantage to transform Kentucky football into a winning program.
