Mark Stoops reveals the moment he realized he should bring Liam Coen back to Kentucky staff

Liam Coen has made a habit of bouncing back and forth from Los Angeles to Kentucky over the past few years. Coen first arrived in Lexington as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2021 after three seasons as an assistant with the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams, but returned to LA as offensive coordinator after just one season.

Now following a one-year stint in that role, he is back in Lexington ahead of the 2023 season to return to his former position. Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops explained at SEC Media Days the decision to bring him back, as well as when he realized that doing so was a real possibility.

“That’s one thing that’s hard with the NFL guys, their season is over so late,” Stoops said. “It was just like the year before put us in a bad position because he was not able to be hired by L.A. until a couple weeks after the Super Bowl, and we all know how late the Super Bowl is played right now. So that part of it can be challenging, but I’d rather not get into the timelines out of respect that everybody is involved because, you know, that was later in the process.

“I had to work through everything I was dealing with at Kentucky, and then certainly open it up for all options. And that’s what I did, and talked to some really talented people. Ultimately, circled back to Liam, and fortunate to have him back.”

Coen’s return brings plenty of excitement because of the results the offense saw during his one year with the Wildcats. With the talented core of quarterback Will Levis, running back Chris Rodriguez and receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, UK averaged 32.3 points per game and finished 10-3, just its fourth 10-win season in program history.

That trio of players is now gone to the NFL, as are a number of offensive lineman from that year’s team. That leaves Kentucky mostly starting over as Coen reassumed his role after the team ranked last in the SEC in scoring offense (20.4 ppg) the year following his departure.

The Wildcats are ready to turn to a new quarterback in NC State transfer Devin Leary. He’ll have a pair of talented targets to throw to in receivers Barrion Brown and Dane Key, who combined for 1,147 yards and 10 touchdowns on their way to earning All-Freshman honors in 2022.

UK adds Vanderbilt transfer Ray Davis, who is coming off of a 1,000-yard season with the Commodores.

Coen enters a pretty different situation this year than he did during his first stint at Kentucky. However, with the success he had just two years ago, Stoops and the rest of the team are excited to welcome him back.