The latest word out of Lexington is that Will Stein is not only bringing in a new running backs coach from Arkansas but has also made a historic move in the program’s front office. In just 17 days, he has added eight to nine coaches, with the running backs position being the lone exception. Thus, in Lexington, a new era is being built at a rapid pace.

“Kentucky is expected to hire Kolby Smith as its new running backs coach, sources tell @CBSSports,” Per Matt Zenitz on X.

While it’s not yet officially confirmed by the university, all the insider reports indicate that it’s a done deal. He’s the guy who’s going to be in charge of making the UK running game exciting next season.

For those unfamiliar with his background, Kolby Smith is a familiar face in the region. He played his own college ball as a standout running back for the Louisville Cardinals back in the mid-2000s.

After his playing days, he transitioned into coaching, moving between the NFL (yes, the Miami Dolphins!) and various college teams, including Rutgers, Western Kentucky, and most recently, the Arkansas Razorbacks. His solid work at both the collegiate and professional levels speaks for itself.

His time at Arkansas is essential because he spent the last two seasons there as their running backs coach. He was even promoted to interim offensive coordinator towards the end of the 2025 season.

During his time with the Razorbacks, he established a solid reputation for two key achievements: developing talented players and being an effective recruiter. He was particularly skilled at convincing top high school players to attend Arkansas, and UK fans are hoping he can bring that same recruiting magic to Lexington.

So, while we wait for the official press release from the university, the general feeling is that this is a smart move for Kentucky. It’s one of the first significant hires for Coach Stein as he puts his own stamp on the program. Moreover, this isn’t the only move he made today.

New era in Lexington football

For the first time in school history, Kentucky football will have a general manager to help run the program’s day-to-day internal and external operations.

Will Stein hired Pat Biondo as the team’s general manager, with Pete Nochta joining as assistant general manager. These front-office changes signal a new operational philosophy in Lexington.

Biondo comes to Kentucky after spending the past four seasons at Oregon as the director of football recruiting strategy, where he played a significant role in the Ducks’ recruiting success.

Before Oregon, he held a very similar recruiting role at Texas A&M. Stein praised Biondo’s work ethic and vision earlier today:

“He has a relentless work ethic and a clear vision for what it takes to build a team and a successful program. His ability to connect with people and bring out the best in those around him makes him a perfect fit.”

Nochta, meanwhile, joins the staff after ten seasons at Louisville. Stein also chose to keep Josh Pruitt as the program’s director of operations. Pruitt is heading into his 14th season with Kentucky, including six years in this role.

It’s safe to say that Will Stein is possibly making all the necessary changes to make a run in the SEC.