New coach Stein says Kentucky will win big 'because of me' - ESPN

TAMPA, Fla. — Kentucky coach Will Stein took the podium Monday at his first SEC media days and was asked why he thought he could win big at the school.

«I think because of me, to be honest,» Stein began.

That is all it took to go viral.

Stein, in his first year as a head coach after spending the last three seasons as offensive coordinator and quarterback coach at Oregon, has infused the entire program with that same shot of confidence. Kentucky players raved about the energy and belief he has brought to the program since his arrival.

«Every day when we have a team meeting, he's just like, 'Let's go!'» safety Ty Bryant said. «He's getting everybody hype, everybody ready. You see it in practice. Just the competitive nature that he has. I mean, if you give him a ball, a helmet, and some shoulder pads, he'll run out there right now and try to play himself. So just being a guy who's played the game, you just see that he's just overflowing with confidence.»

Indeed, Stein gave a detailed, elaborate answer beyond why he felt he would be the one to help Kentucky win.

«I know what it takes,» Stein said. «I have seen it at the highest levels. I know what it takes to recruit at this level. You just got to believe. Is it going to happen overnight? I don't know.

»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. 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."

Indeed, Stein built a roster to try and win now despite a daunting schedule with games against Alabama, Texas A&M, LSU, Oklahoma,