KSR Podcast Summary (Hour 2) – December 1, 2025

Main Theme:
The KSR crew—led by Matt Jones and Ryan Lemond—dives deep into Kentucky Football’s coaching search following Mark Stoops’ departure. They analyze potential candidates, debate priorities for the program’s next era, and gauge the pulse of fans and insiders as decision-makers frantically work behind the scenes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Behind the Stoops Departure & Leadership Decisions

• The hour opens with Matt and Ryan reflecting on Mark Stoops' exit.
• Stoops’ willingness to go "all-in" for the program is lauded, but his relationship with the student fan base and lack of engagement with students is discussed as a contributing factor to the recent lack of support.
  • "Stoops didn't do anything to cultivate students really at all… It matters a little bit. Doesn't matter a ton, but it matters." (20:33, Matt Jones)
• Matt stresses the importance of timely, transparent decision-making by UK Athletics, pointing out that having a clear, actionable plan—even before firing a coach—is essential.

2. Who Are the Top Coaching Candidates?

• Discussion centers on three main names:
  • Will Stein (Offensive Coordinator, Oregon):
    • Lexington native, Kentucky fan, creative offensive mind.
    • "Most people think really creative mind." (06:39, Matt Jones)
    • Connection with UK’s quarterback recruit, Cutter Ponotoski, for whom Oregon (and Stein) finished second to UK.
  • Brian Hartline (OC/WR Coach, Ohio State):
    • UK alum Mike Hartline’s brother, elite recruiter, intimately familiar with UK program.
    • "If we offered the job to Brian Hartline, he would take it." (07:46, Matt Jones)
    • Could bring “some of that Ohio State juice” and potentially transfer talent from Ohio State.
  • Dan Mullen (Head Coach, UNLV):
    • Known for taking Mississippi State to national prominence and turning around struggling UNLV, but concerns linger about his tenure at Florida and fit with UK.
    • "Mullen, I'm kind of like you, definitely. Third, I wouldn't love it, but I wouldn't hate it." (10:30, Matt Jones)

Discussion of Each Candidate

• Stein and Hartline are considered home run, youthful, high-upside hires.
  • "Swing for the fences. If you hit a foul ball in three years, we'll swing again. But let's go see if we can find Ellie De La Cruz and let's stop bringing in retreads." (11:16, Matt Jones)
• Mullen (and others like Chip Kelly) are seen as reruns/‘retreads’—former big names whose best days may be behind them.

3. Fan & Insider Expectations: Timeline and Decision Process

• Fans want swift action given the recruitment calendar and transfer portal chaos.
• Matt and Ryan discuss the likely search committee:
  • Mitch Barnhart (AD), Mark Hill (Barnhart's “right-hand man”), and potentially a former player or voice like Jacob Tamme.
  • "He had Tim Couch when he hired Stoops. It would make sense if it was Tamme since Tamme's on that board." (15:31, Matt Jones)
• Will Stein, per sources, is being interviewed today—a sign of urgency.
• Interest in and connection with Rich Brooks (former UK coach, now at Oregon alongside Stein), noted as a goodwill factor.

4. Caller Opinions & Community Vibe

• Student and young fan opinions signal a strong desire for change, excitement, and modern, up-tempo football.
• Callers overwhelmingly favor Stein or Hartline, with little enthusiasm for Mullen or any “celebrity” hires (e.g., Gruden, Chip Kelly).
  • "That's like having a clogged toilet and taking a crap on top of it, expecting to fix it. We need a plumber to come in here…"(32:29, Caller “Luke”)

5. What UK Must Prioritize in the New Era

• Youth/Hunger:
  • Both hosts push for a young, hungry coach who fits the modern NIL/portal landscape.
  • "I want a young guy…I want them to be my age or younger in my opinion, for this new era." (13:47, Matt Jones)
• Offensive Excitement:
  • After years of grind-it-out football, there’s strong agreement UK needs a higher-powered, visually appealing offense.
  • "Even when they were winning… the offense was not the most fun to watch. So I'm excited to get a guy who can come in here and make the offense really exciting." (36:55, Caller “Hunter”)
• Program Connection:
  • Unique moment: Multiple top hotshot coordinators with deep local ties—unlikely to ever happen again.
  • "When's that ever going to happen again?" (28:56, Matt Jones)
• Retention Concerns:
  • Some callers worry about losing a successful new hire to a bigger program, but Matt argues that, in today’s market and with NIL, UK can hang onto winners longer.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Matt on the Importance of Swinging Big:
  • "Let's swing for a superstar. Let's swing for our Signetti. Maybe we don’t get it, but I think I'd rather do that than bring in a guy like Mullen who I feel like would do fine… Why don't we swing for the fences to be great?" (11:48)
• Ryan’s Take on Hartline’s Recruiting:
  • "But their fifth best receiver gets drafted. The potential of him bringing some of those guys with him and some of that Ohio State juice that he's had." (09:36)
• Caller “Luke” with the analogy of the day:
  • "That's like having a clogged toilet and taking a crap on top of it, expecting to fix it. We need a plumber to come in here, plunge out the toilet, inject some life and some offense into this fanbase..." (32:23)
• Matt on the uniqueness of this hiring moment:
  • "If you can get one of those three guys…Will we ever have three dudes with connections to the University of Kentucky on the top 10 list again?" (29:22)
• Matt on program priorities:
  • "Now if they win, we could keep them... Used to be, if anybody had any real success, they’ll be gone. But now we can keep them in this new era." (11:48)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:06: Show kicks off, first reactions to Stoops/UK situation.
• 05:53: Naming and analysis of top three coaching candidates.
• 07:29: Hartline’s candidacy, sources indicating he’d take the job if offered.
• 09:37–11:48: Debates over who is the superior candidate between Stein and Hartline. Arguments for “swinging for the fences” with a “superstar” hire.
• 13:47: Emphasis on hiring a "young and hungry" coach for the NIL/Portal era.
• 19:59–26:42: Callers’ reactions, including students and out-of-state fans. Broad consensus: excitement for change and preference for youth/offense.
• 28:55–31:07: Matt on the rarity of the current opportunity with so many UK-affiliated top candidates.
• 36:55: Caller “Hunter” sums up fan fatigue with Stoops-ball and desire for a high-energy offense.
• 40:42: Lane Kiffin contract bonuses—brief sidebar.
• 47:00: Final thoughts on candidate pool and urgency.
• 48:27: The episode closes with optimism about landing a top choice and hints about real-time interviews/decisions occurring even as the show is live.

Takeaways

• Momentum is Squarely on the Side of Reinvention:
  • Hosts and callers agree: UK Football needs a jolt—youthful leadership, creative offense, and a cultural reset.
• Fan Base is Engaged and Informed:
  • The KSR audience comes equipped with research, opinions, and a pulse on both current UK affairs and the national landscape.
• Sense of Urgency is Real:
  • UK can and should move quickly, but not rush to mediocrity—opportunity knocks with major program ties at the top of the candidate list.

In sum:
The KSR crew and Big Blue Nation see this not as a crisis, but as a time of rare opportunity. With several coaches who have Kentucky blood and national reputations available, the message is clear: swing big, choose with vision, and trust the next era could be special if the right decision is made—immediately.

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