The 2025 college football coaching carousel was one of the wildest in recent memory, with multiple big-time jobs opening up and being filled by high-profile coaches. Among the new hires are three first-time Power 4 head coaches who are expected to make a big impact in 2026.

Will Stein at Kentucky

Will Stein, former Oregon offensive coordinator, takes over at Kentucky. Stein’s offensive background will help shake things up at a school that has been a hard-nosed, defense-first program for the past decade. With the infrastructure in place and the added spotlight of coaching in the SEC, Stein is expected to make a strong debut.

Bob Chesney at UCLA

Bob Chesney, who took James Madison to the College Football Playoff in just two seasons, is now at UCLA. Chesney has a track record of being a winner everywhere he has coached, and he is tasked with resurrecting a once-proud program that has fallen on hard times. With his recruiting prowess and coaching chops, Chesney is expected to bring UCLA back to prominence.

Eric Morris at Oklahoma State

Eric Morris, a former Texas Tech player and Air Raid disciple of Mike Leach, takes over at Oklahoma State. Morris has a reputation for being a quarterback whisperer, having molded several players into Heisman candidates. With his handpicked quarterback, Drew Mestemaker, Morris is ready to excel in Stillwater and make a name for himself in the college football world.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.