When former Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein was named the new head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats, he knew he was going to have his work cut out for him.
Since 2020, the Wildcats have boasted a 38-30 overall record and have failed to finish above .500 for back-to-back seasons. Rebuilding in the Southeastern Conference can be a challenging feat, especially with the move to a nine-game conference schedule in 2026. To begin the overhaul in Lexington, Stein went out and hired one of the most successful defensive coordinators in the country.
Former Texas A&M coordinator Jay Bateman joined Stein’s staff after spending two seasons with the Aggies under head coach Mike Elko. Bateman’s unit ranked second in the SEC with 43 total sacks during the program’s first appearance in the College Football Playoff. In 2024, the Aggie defense ranked third in the conference with 16 interceptions and 76 passes defended.
During Monday’s session of the 2026 SEC Media Days in Tampa, Florida, on Monday, Stein said Bateman’s track record of success at the highest level played a massive role in choosing him to rebuild the Wildcats’ defense this season.
The Aggies achieved their first 11-0 start since 1992 last year under Elko and with Bateman’s leadership on the defensive side. Three former Texas A&M defensive stars were also selected in the 2026 NFL Draft this season, which is a major compliment to Elko and Bateman’s ability to develop talent.
The Stein-led Kentucky Wildcats will travel to College Station to face Texas A&M on September 19, with kickoff slated for 2:30 p.m. CT.
When do the Aggies take the stage at the 2026 SEC Media Days?
Texas A&M will take the podium on Wednesday, with head coach Mike Elko, quarterback Marcel Reed, defensive back Marcus Ratcliffe and linebacker Daymion Sanford representing the Aggies in Tampa. You can follow along with all of our SEC Media Days coverage here.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: ‘Jay embodied who I am as a coach’: Kentucky HC speaks on A&M DC hire
Reporting by Dylan Flippo, Aggies Wire / Aggies Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dylan Flippo, Aggies Wire | USA TODAY Network
