Who are Will Stein, Tosh Lupoi, Oregon assistants soon-to-be head coaches?
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Who are Will Stein, Tosh Lupoi, Oregon assistants soon-to-be head coaches?
Ehsan Kassim, USA TODAY NETWORKJanuary 9, 2026 at 6:06 AM
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As soon as Oregon football's College Football Playoff comes to an end, Dan Lanning's top coordinators are slated to become first-time head coaches.
Offensive coordinator Will Stein and defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi will step into head coaching roles with Kentucky and California, respectively. Both coaches have been busy recruiting from the transfer portal while simultaneously preparing the Ducks for their CFP Peach Bowl semifinal vs. Indiana on Friday, Jan. 9.
REQUIRED READING: Indiana vs. Oregon Peach Bowl prediction, TV channel, odds for CFP semifinal
But don't expect Stein and Lupoi to be ready to jump ship just yet. The assistant coaches would be more than happy to help lead Oregon to its first national championship in program history. The dual roles have not slowed down either from building out their rosters for the 2026 season, either.
“I’m blessed to be in the position I’m in,” Stein said at Peach Bowl Media Day. “It’s really surreal that I’m in this position. I’ve really just tried to focus all my energy on what I’m doing at the present moment, and not trying to think too much about things I can’t control.
"What I know that I can control is trying to be the best offensive coordinator for the Oregon Ducks right now, give our guys a great plan, and give it my all to this university that’s given me so much and my family so much.”
Here's what to know about Stein and Lupoi, Oregon's assistant coaches who will be head coaches starting in the 2026 season:
Who is Will Stein?
After leading Trinity High School (Louisville) to three state championships, Stein began his collegiate career as a walk-on at Louisville. He redshirted his freshman season, but earned playing time over the next four years between 2009 and 2012.
Stein finished his Louisville career 124-of-210 passing (59%) for 1,273 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions in 25 career games. Following the conclusion of his playing career, he stayed on the Louisville staff as a graduate assistant and quality control coach from 2013 to 2014. In 2015, he joined his college coach, Charlie Strong, as a quality control coach at Texas.
From 2018-19, Stein became an assistant coach at the high school level, where he coached future NFL star receiver Garrett Wilson at Lake Travis High School in Austin, Texas.
Stein spent 2020 to 2022 at UTSA before being hired by Lanning as the Oregon offensive coordinator on Dec. 5, 2022. In his time with the Ducks, Stein coached Heisman finalists, quarterbacks Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel.
On Dec. 1, 2026, Stein was hired by Kentucky to become its next head coach, following the school's decision to part ways with Mark Stoops.
Who is Tosh Lupoi?
Lupoi played as a defensive lineman for Cal from 2000 to 2005, leading the Golden Bears' defensive line in tackles in 2003. Following his playing career, Lupoi was hired by Cal as a defensive line coach.
In 2010, he ran into controversy after telling Aaron Tipoti to fake an injury against Oregon on Nov. 13, 2010. Lupoi was suspended a game.
Steve Sarkisian hired Lupoi as his defensive line coach for Washington in 2012, where he was the coach for the 2012-13 season. However, after two seasons, Sarkisian left Washington for Southern California. He did not bring Lupoi with him, as he was under investigation for recruiting violations, for which he was acquitted.
From 2016 to 2018, Lupoi served in various coaching capacities under Nick Saban at Alabama. He then bounced around the NFL as a defensive line coach from 2019 to 2021, with single-year stints with the Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars.
He was hired as the defensive coordinator by Lanning on Jan. 10, 2022. The Ducks finished the 2025 regular season ranked third nationally in total defense (251.6 YPG), passing defense (144.3 YPG) and passing yards allowed (1,732). He was named a semifinalist for the Broyles Award in 2024 and 2025.
On Dec. 4, 2026, Lupoi was hired by Cal to become its next head coach.
Will Stein coaching career
Here's a look at Stein's coaching career:
Head coach unless otherwise specified. Assistant role listed in parentheses
2013: Louisville (graduate assistant)
2014: Louisville (quality control)
2015-17: Texas (quality control)
2018-19: Lake Travis HS (assistant head coach/offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach)
2022: UTSA (co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach)
2023-25: Oregon (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach)
2026: Kentucky
Tosh Lupoi coaching career
Here's a look at Lupoi's coaching career:
Head coach unless otherwise specified. Assistant role listed in parentheses
2008-11: California (defensive line coach)
2012-13: Washington (defensive line coach)
2014-15: Alabama (defensive assistant)
2016: Alabama (outside linebackers coach)
2017: Alabama (co-defensive coordinator/outside linebackers coach)
2018: Alabama (defensive coordinator/outside linebackers coach)
2019: Cleveland Browns (defensive line coach)
2020: Atlanta Falcons (defensive line coach)
2021: Jacksonville Jaguars (defensive line coach)
2022-25: Oregon (defensive coordinator/linebackers coach)
2026: California
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who are Will Stein, Tosh Lupoi? What to know of Oregon assistant coaches
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