Less than two weeks after accepting the head football coach position at Kentucky, Will Stein is zeroing in on his first defensive coordinator. The Wildcats are reportedly closing in on a deal with Texas A&M's Jay Bateman to make him a member of Stein's inaugural staff.

Bateman, 52, is wrapping up his second season as defensive coordinator at Texas A&M. The longtime defensive coach is inches away from joining his third different SEC program in four years, On3 Sports' Pete Nakos reported.

Bateman will join Joe Sloan as Stein's inaugural coordinators. Stein hired Sloan, who has spent the last four seasons with LSU, as his offensive coordinator within days of accepting the job.

Bateman initially rose to prominence as the defensive coordinator at Army in 2018, where he was named a Broyle

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