LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Kentucky football fans on Monday stormed through the doors of Sissy Cakes, a Louisville bakery just across the street from Trinity High School.
Why?
Because co-owner Debbie Stein is the mother of UK's new head coach, Will Stein.
"I saw (Will's) name come up on my phone, and I was like, 'Oh my gosh,'" Debbie said, recalling when her son called with the news. "He said it kind of in a twang. It was funny — 'Mom, I’m gonna be a Wildcat.'"
Pictured: UK football head coach Will Stein's aunt, Blakey Martin (left), and his mom, Debbie Stein (right). (WDRB image)
Debbie Stein runs the bakery with her sister -- Will's aunt -- Blakey Martin.
When Will was little he actually helped name the business: both sisters were baking birthday cakes one day when he told them, "Oh, I want a sissy cake." They remember saying, "Well, isn’t that adorable? Yeah, we should have a store someday and call it Sissy Cakes."
That was years ago. By 2022, Will, his mom and aunt were manifesting all of their dreams. Sissy Cakes opened in St. Matthews, and Will was promoted to co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Since then, success has followed both the bakery and the coach.
Will, 36, has served as Oregon's offensive coordinator since 2023 and helped guide the Ducks to a Big Ten championship and College Football Playoff berth last season, leading one of the nation’s most explosive and balanced attacks.
Now he’s set for his first head coaching job, returning to his home state to lead the team he once rooted for as a kid.
"I just know from the bottom of my heart he's ready," his mom said "He's always had that confidence, just the knowledge, the love of the game. He has been all about football since he was really four years old."
Despite being a former Trinity High School and University of Louisville quarterback, there is no doubt that the Stein family bleeds blue. His parents are Kentucky alums, and he grew up attending games in Lexington. His father, Matt, was a player at Kentucky.
Before suiting up for the Cards as a preferred walk-on, his mom tells the story that Will reached out to Joker Phillips to ask about playing for Kentucky before inquiring about UofL.
"He did email (Phillips), but didn't get an answer back. I don't know if it went to spam," Debbie joked. "No hard feelings there at all ... he became a Cardinal, and we enjoyed every moment of that."
Tuesday, Sissy Cakes was already fielding orders from UK fans a mere hours removed from the announcement that her son would be Kentucky's next head football coach. Debbie and Blakey work hard to perfect every batch of their world famous Orange Juice Bundt cakes. They even had to shut down the online ordering site due to an overwhelming amount of orders.
Things are getting busier for Debbie. Business is booming, and later, she has to babysit her grandkids, Will's son and daughter.
But, make no mistake, that's a welcome responsibility.
"Being 'DD,' a grandmother now to his two children, I'm just so thrilled that they'll only be 70 miles away versus 2000 miles away," Debbie said.
Debbie believes that every step in this journey led Will, and their family, to this moment.
"I truly believe in my heart that this is the way it was supposed to be," she said. "And he believes that too."
Will Stein is expected to be officially introduced as Kentucky's head coach on Wednesday.
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