Oregon Ducks' Will Stein A Top Candidate To Replace Chip Kelly At Ohio State

The Las Vegas Raiders hired Ohio State Buckeyes offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. Ohio State coach Ryan Day and the Buckeyes must hire a replacement and Oregon Ducks coach Will Stein is a top candidate with Brian Hartline, Shannon Dawson and Joe Moorhead.
Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel throws out a pass as offensive coordinator Will Stein during practice with the Oregon Ducks Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024 at the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex in Eugene, Ore.
Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel throws out a pass as offensive coordinator Will Stein during practice with the Oregon Ducks Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024 at the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex in Eugene, Ore. / Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Las Vegas Raiders hired Ohio State Buckeyes offensive coordinator Chip Kelly to run the offense under new coach Pete Carroll. Ohio State coach Ryan Day and the reigning National Champion Buckeyes now must hire a replacement and Oregon Ducks offensive coordinator Will Stein is a top candidate.

Stein, Ohio State wide receivers coach Brian Hartline, Miami Hurricanes offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson and Akron head coach Joe Moorhead are four top candidates, according to a report from On3's Pete Nakos.

New Oregon offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Will Stein leads a drill on the first practice of spring for Oregon f
New Oregon offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Will Stein leads a drill on the first practice of spring for Oregon football as the Ducks prepare for the 2023 season. Eug 031623 Uo Spring Fb 15 / Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK

"He could be a plug-and-play head coach,” said On3's report of Stein.

Day is losing his first-year offensive coordinator, and friend, to the NFL. Day and Kelly have a long history. As a college football player, Day was coached by Kelly at New Hampshire. Day then coached with Kelly at New Hampshire (2002) and also for two years in the NFL (2015, Philadelphia Eagles; 2016, San Francisco 49ers.)

The former Duck Kelly brought immense success to Oregon from 2007-2012 and is now celebrating a national championship with the Buckeyes. Ohio State defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 34-23, to become 2024-25 College Football Playoff National Champions and earn its sixth national title. It's Ohio State's first championship since defeating the Oregon Ducks in 2014.

So the good news for Ducks fans is to not have to face Kelly in the Big Ten conference anymore. The bad news is, Stein is a hot name surrounding the job at Ohio State.

Stein’s coaching career includes stops at Louisville (2013-14), Texas (2015-17), Lake Travis High School (2018-19) and University of Texas at San Antonio (2020-22), where Stein started as pass game coordinator and wide receivers coach and was named co-offensive coordinator and quarterback coach in the 2022 season.

Stein's accomplishments in 2023 turned heads of other programs. His name was connected to head coaching vacancies with the UCLA Bruins, Washington Huskies, Kentucky Wildcats and Houston Cougars.

The 35-year-old Stein has been the Ducks' offensive coordinator for the last two seasons, coaching back-to-back Heisman Trophy quarterbacks in Dillon Gabriel and Bo Nix.

Oregon Head Coach Chip Kelly, center, leads the Ducks on to the field at the LA Memorial Coliseum in Los Angles on Saturday,
Oregon Head Coach Chip Kelly, center, leads the Ducks on to the field at the LA Memorial Coliseum in Los Angles on Saturday, November 3, 2012. / Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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"I think it’s the track record of what coach [Stein] has been able to do at a bunch of different spots at a bunch of different levels as well. I also think proven concept, right? Being here and seeing all the guys who’ve done what they’ve done... Winning a bunch of games, which is the main thing," Gabriel said of Stein during Oregon's undefeated streak.

While Oregon's offense most-recently stalled in the Rose Bowl vs. Ohio State, Stein helped lead the Ducks to the first 13-0 start in program history, earning the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff and a berth in the Rose Bowl. The Ducks averaged 34.9 points and 437.4 yards per game in 2024.

In November, Stein talked with CBS Sports' Adam Breneman about reasons he loves working at Oregon for coach Dan Lanning.

"The attention to detail here is unlike any place I've ever been, not just from Dan but from the top down, from our athletic director to the people who clean up this building," said Stein.

"There's no stone unturned, ever," Stein continued. "What Coach Lanning does in terms of teaching our players football on a daily basis is better than any place I've been. Our kid's football IQ here that, I don't want to say surprised me, but I was like, 'Whoa, these guys know football.'"

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Bri Amaranthus
BRI AMARANTHUS

Bri Amaranthus is an Emmy-winning sports reporter with over 12 years of experience in television, radio, podcasting, and digital sports journalism. She has been with Sports Illustrated for four years, providing breaking news, exclusive interviews, and analysis on the NFL, college sports, and the NBA. Prior to joining SI, Bri hosted NBC Sports Northwest's prime-time television show, where she also served as the Oregon beat reporter and created content covering both the NBA and college sports. Throughout her career, Bri has achieved significant milestones, including covering major events like the NBA Finals, NFL playoffs, College Football Playoff, NCAA Basketball Tournament, NFL Draft, and the NFL Combine. She earned a D1 scholarship to play softball at the University of San Diego and won two state softball titles in high school in Oregon. In addition to her Emmy win for NBC's All-Star Coach special, she has received multiple Emmy nominations, highlighting her dedication and talent in sports journalism.