Will Stein has been a head coach for just a few months, but he moves like a veteran executive. From the moment he arrived in Lexington, Stein understood that the job was too big for one man.
To succeed in the SEC, he knew he needed an elite front office. He didn’t hesitate. He brought in Pat Biondo from Oregon as his General Manager and Pete Nochta from Louisville as assistant GM to help build the roster. The result? A strong portal haul and a roster that makes sense.
Mark Pope is in Year 2, and he has taken a different approach. He has leaned on his coaching staff to double as his front office, trying to close out recruitments while also scouting opponents and developing players. The results have been mixed at best…