Kentucky hires new offensive coordinator from NFL ranks
Mark Stoops made a tough personal decision when he decided it was time for Kentucky to move on from offensive coordinator Eddie Gran and quarterbacks coach Darin Hinshaw immediately following the Wildcats’ 4-6 season, but based on recent results for the team’s offense, it was time for the program to go in a new direction.
Now, following a coaching search that lasted just over a week, we know the coach that is poised to reshape the program’s offense starting in 2021.
A source tells SDS that Stoops has made the decision to hire Los Angeles Rams assistant quarterbacks coach Liam Coen to serve as Kentucky’s next offensive coordinator. Football Scoop was the first to report the news.
Coen has served on Sean McVay’s LA Rams staff for three seasons. Before serving as the Rams’ assistant quarterbacks coach, Coen coached the team’s assistant receivers for two seasons.
Considering the issues Kentucky has had developing quarterbacks and receivers in recent seasons, Coen’s hire could be just the move needed to get the offense rolling again in Lexington.
During the 2019 season, the Rams had two 1,000-yard receivers (Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods). That accomplishment had not been done by the Rams dating back to the 2002 season. During the 2018 season, Coen was a member of the LA staff that led the Rams to an appearance in the Super Bowl.
Before joining the Rams’ coaching staff, Coen was the offensive coordinator at the University of Maine for two seasons and the passing game coordinator at UMass for one season. Coen also served as the QB coach at Brown University and the University of Rhode Island.
Coen is a graduate of UMass, where he was a starting quarterback for four seasons. During his playing career, UMass made an appearance in the 2006 FCS National Championship game and rewrote many of the school’s passing records.
Stoops is definitely going the high risk, high reward route. I hope this works out. Now we need a ST Coordinator.
Sounds like a good hire. Defensive coordinators around the SEC will miss Gran and his super stupid offensive schemes.
I like the hire. He went with someone who can help coach up both the receivers and Qb’s, an area thats been severely lacking. A new scheme should help some of the offense problems we have had the past few season. Defense has been solid, but offense has been whats stopped us from competing at the next level. Excited to see if this hire pays off for us. We for sure need to get ST coordinator next. Go Cats. Stoops has my full support.
I like that he grabbed a guy from the NFL. He also seems to have pulled a guy that uses the RB and TE positions effectively. I’m looking forward to a more pro-style offense. That was something I thought Rich Brooks did well when utilizing Andre Woodson. I always felt with that bunch that we could convert on 3rd and 10 or longer at any time. If we didn’t have 3rd and 3 or 4, you could almost write off Gran’s offense. Ideally, next year, we’ll be especially effective with the TE as the WRs develop. Which QB wins the job under this guy?
This guy may be God’s gift to football but for some reason I’m not very excited about it. With the money UK is paying assistants, I would think they could have done better.
and who would they be? the better hire that is
It’s normal and logical to take a “wait and see” approach to this hire, but even with the gains UK football has made with Stoops, it’s still not a school guys are going to beat down the door to get into coordinator position. Not sure how we could have done any better just from I’ve read in the press.
I like the hire. His background seems right in line with Joe Brady. I would have loved for LSU to have gotten him to replace Brady.