The Kentucky Wildcats hired former West Virginia offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Shannon Dawson for the same position last month. Dawson spent the past three seasons with the Mountaineers, leading the team to a No. 12 overall ranking in total offense.

Dawson ran an Air Raid offense, similar to former coordinator Neal Brown and former Wildcats head coach Hal Mumme, who he spent three years working under from 2003-05. The Mountaineers ranked No. 9 in passing offense, with quarterback Clint Trickett ranking 10th in the nation in passing yards per game.

The coordinator has also succeeded as a recruiter, finding several players that exceeded expectations at West Virginia. Dawson recruited former three-star prospect Kevin White, who finished the 2014 season with 102 catches, 1,447 yards and 10 touchdowns, finishing as a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation’s best receiver.

Dawson should provide improvement to an ailing Kentucky offense. The Wildcats ranked No. 79 overall in total offense, No. 63 in passing offense and No. 77 in rushing offense.

The tenured assistant has achieved success in each of his previous stops. Dawson left Southeastern Louisiana with a winning record in 2004 and helped lead Stephen F. Austin to a 23-14 record in three years.

During his four years at West Virginia, the Mountaineers won at least seven games three times and a 2011 Big East championship. Head coach Mark Stoops backed Dawson during his final press conference of the 2014 season.

“I’m very excited to bring Shannon Dawson to the University of Kentucky,” Stoops told Kentucky’s official website. “He has done a great job in helping build programs to success on every level. I’ve been impressed with the balance of West Virginia’s offense and how difficult they are to defend. I love the continuity he will bring to what we’ve been doing as we build on the progress we’ve made so far.

“In learning more about Shannon, I’ve found out what a strong leader he is and heard nothing but good things about him throughout our profession.”

Kentucky made an excellent hire in Shannon Dawson, who should provide the program with much needed improvement on offense.