Anonymous SEC coach says Kentucky's offensive coordinator change will be a 'huge swing'

The difference in Kentucky’s offense between Liam Coen and Rich Scangarello was drastic to say the least. That’s why, with Coen back in the fold, one coach is high on what the Wildcats can do in 2023.

In Athlon Sports’ annual college football preview, an anonymous coach in the Southeastern Conference thinks the return to Coen’s offense will work wonders in Lexington. With him wearing the headset for Mark Stoops’ program, all they think that UK needs to do to compete for second in the SEC East is to have QB Devin Leary eventually hit as a successful transfer.

“The change back at offensive coordinator is going to be a huge swing for them, even with (Will) Levis leaving for the NFL,” they said. “They’re going back to a different SEC era. (It’s) what you’d expect an Iowa guy like Mark (Stoops) to want to do. Find wrinkles and formations and new-age stuff to run the ball and control the clock and help the defense.”

“If the QB transfer hits? They’re going to be as good as they’ve been in recent years,” said the anonymous coach. “They’re going to fight Tennessee and South Carolina for the No. 2 slot in the East again.”

During Kentucky’s nine other seasons under Stoops, the Wildcat’s offense posted an average finish of 88th. Overall, they averaged 25.1 points per game with three finishes outside the Top-100. In total, they produced 363 yards per contest.

Then, in Coen’s lone season in the bluegrass, they had their only Top-50 offensive finish. The Wildcats scored 32.3 points per game, which was 36th best in the NCAA. They also produced 425.4 yards per game.

To be more specific, you only need to look at the sandwich that was Eddie Gran’s last season as offensive coordinator, Coen’s explosion in 2021, and Scangarello’s dropoff last fall.

• Eddie Gran in 2020: 21.8 points per game (108th nationally), 318.3 yards per game
• Liam Coen in 2021: 32.3 points per game (36th nationally), 425.4 yards per game
• Rich Scangarello in 2022: 20.4 points per game (112th nationally), 324.7 yards per game

The way and how quickly that Leary finds his groove at Kentucky specifically will play a big role in their offensive success this season. However, with Coen’s system back in place, several people believe that UK is already off to a far better start with that foundation on offense back in place.

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