Day one of SEC Media Days in Tampa did not have the most exciting list of teams, but that didn’t stop one of the most under the radar coaches on the list from making some serious fireworks when he took the podium.

New Kentucky Wildcats head coach Will Stein — who has taken over the program to try to get it from the depths of the conference — was asked why he believes he can win big at a place where winning has been such a struggle. His answer will go down as one of the sound bites of the week.

Will Stein, on why he thinks he can win at Kentucky

“This is gonna sound really…I think because of me, to be honest. Because of me” pic.twitter.com/Kqlp2Soie4

— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace) July 20, 2026

“I think because of me, to be honest,” Stein said with a smile when asked what makes him think he can bring Kentucky success. “Because of me. I think I know what it takes. I’ve seen it at the highest levels. I know what it takes to recruit at this level. You’ve just got to believe, man. You’ve just got to put the ball down and play. There’s not really [much] 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 right now. I don’t. The best determination of if what you’re doing is working is putting the ball down and playing football.”

Stein oversaw an offense at Oregon which was consistently one of the best in the nation, and after growing up a Wildcats fan in Kentucky, this job is personal to him now. At just 36 years old, he is the youngest coach in the SEC, and the testing is going to start very early with Alabama coming to town in week two of the season.

If he can keep his promise and deliver success to Lexington, it’s safe to say this sound bite will go down in SEC history.