Mark Stoops provides update on Liam Coen: 'things look good'

On Sunday, the University of Kentucky released a statement stating offensive coordinator Liam Coen suffered a “medical episode” at the Kentucky football facility around noon. While details are still sparse, head coach Mark Stoops provided a positive update on Monday.

“It’s been a challenging day or so for us,” Stoops said, per Kentucky Sports Radio. “We will continue to push forward as always. I think the prognosis of things looks good with the people in our office and that will be back in our office. I’ll leave it at that on that subject.”

Coen is in his second season as Kentucky’s OC. In 2021, he led the Wildcats to their best offense yet under Mark Stoops with an average of 32.2 points per game, good for 36th in the nation, and 425.4 yards.

Coen left the program to become the OC for the Los Angeles Rams in 2022. Nonetheless, Coen returned to the position after spending one season in the NFL. Coen has been pivotal in Kentucky’s 2-0 start this season.

Kentucky ended up with 44 points against Ball State in Coen’s return to the sidelines of Kroger Field but then slowed up, before finding more of a groove in the second half, with 28 points against Eastern Kentucky this weekend.

Stoops claims the team will be OK without Coen while he heals.

“We’ll be fine. We’ve got it under control,” Stoops said. “We’ve worked extremely hard after a challenging day. We had a good work night. Got some things in place and we will move forward and get corrections made from this past game.”

It had been less than 24 hours since Kentucky defeated Eastern Kentucky 28-17 when Coen suffered his medical emergency. As mentioned previously, the university provided more details on the scary matter.

“On Sept. 10, 2023, at approximately 12:40 p.m., assistant football coach Liam Coen had a medical episode while at work at UK’s football offices on campus. He is currently in good condition at UK Chandler Hospital, while doctors and medical personnel continue to monitor him, and is expected to be released Monday. Out of respect for his privacy and that of his family, we will have no additional comment at this time.”

Upon Coen’s return this offseason, Kentucky signed Coen to a three-year contract worth $1.7 million in 2023, $1.8 million in 2024 and $1.9 million in the final year of his deal in 2025.

On3’s Sam Gillenwater also contributed to this article.