Gus Malzahn shares what Darin Hinshaw brings to UCF as offensive coordinator

UCF head coach Gus Malzahn brought in Darin Hinshaw as his team’s new offensive coordinator earlier this offseason, airing on the side of caution and comfortability rather than taking a chance on a OC elsewhere.

Hinshaw, a former UCF quarterback, was most recently a senior analyst for Malzahn’s initial staff in 2021 before moving on to be the OC/QB coach at UAB. Malzahn explained his reasoning behind bringing journeyman OC back to Central Florida.

“I brought in Darin to really open up our offense, push the ball vertically down the field,” Malzahn said during Big 12 media day. “We were a top 20 offense overall in college football, but our yards per completion were really high, like 88th in the country, something like that.

“And then to develop our quarterback, specifically John Rhys Plumlee, and he has done an unbelievable job. John Rhys is like night and day to where he was at this time last year. He’s one of the all-time greats in UCF history. I think that’s important. He was with me the first year when I got this job off the field, so I know him well. He’s a great person and he was really the right fit for us.”

Hinshaw, who played at UCF from 1991-94, is tied for second in Knights history with 82 career touchdown passes. An successful offensive mind who is familiar with the program, and with Malzahn, was a no-brainer hire for UCF this offseason.

He replaces Chip Lindsey, who left the program to take the same position at North Carolina. With Lindsey calling the shots, UCF ranked 17th nationally in total offense this season on its way to a 9-5 finish, including 6-2 in AAC play. Malzahn will hope for a seamless transition between the two coordinators and retain that success in 2023.

Whether how much of Hinshaw’s influence will affect UCF starting quarterback John Rhys Plumlee’s game this season remains to be seen, but many analysts are expecting a big season from the former Ole Miss transfer during the Knight’s first season in the Big 12.

Injuries occasionally slowed down Plumlee in his debut season at UCF, but he still managed to lead the team in rushing and passing yards. He ended last season with 2,586 yards in the air, 862 yards on the ground, and 25 total touchdowns, and those numbers could go up if he keeps progressing the way Malzahn believes he is — and Hinshaw is expected to play a major role in that progression.