Former Kentucky assistant Darin Hinshaw named offensive coordinator at UAB

After just one season off the field, former Kentucky co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Darin Hinshaw will be returning to a big role in 2022. On Friday, Hinshaw was given the offensive coordinator gig at UAB.

𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐍 𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐖‼️

Head Coach Bryant Vincent has announced the hiring of new Offensive Coordinator Darin Hinshaw.

🔗: https://t.co/4bWbzn6TU9#WinAsOne pic.twitter.com/SRObgqz9Ha

— UAB Football (@UAB_FB) July 29, 2022

In June, UAB head coach Bill Clark resigned after six seasons due to a desperate need for back surgery. The 54-year-old helped bring the program back from the dead after the university eliminated football following the 2014 season. Less than a year later, the administration backtracked and brought back the football program. From there, Clark started his rebuild. The Blazers returned to the field in 2017 and would win a pair of conference titles in 2018 and 2020.

During that run, Bryant Vincent played a key part serving as the offensive coordinator for the Blazers. The Kentucky native was promoted to head coach following Clark’s resignation. One of the his biggest early hires will be allowing Darin Hinshaw to run the offense.

The UCF alum spent five seasons at Kentucky coaching quarterbacks and serving as the No. 2 under play-caller Eddie Gran. Hinshaw was in charge of the recruitment of junior college quarterback Stephen Johnson who led Kentucky to some key rebuilding wins in the 2016 season following the loss of Drew Barker to injury. However, the offense had both passing game and quarterback recruiting issues throughout Hinshaw’s tenure. Both him and Gran were relieved of their duties after the 2020 season as Mark Stoops decided to take his program in a different direction on offense.

Hinshaw landed at his alma mater in the 2021 season serving as an analyst for Gus Malzahn at UCF. In January, UAB hired the 50-year-old as an analyst and has since promoted Hinshaw to the coordinator position.

UTSA enters the 2022 season as the preseason favorite to win the C-USA, but UAB is right behind the Roadrunners. With quarterback Dylan Hopkins returning along with star tailback DeWayne McBride (1,371 rushing yards, 13 touchdowns, 6.7 yards per rush), expectations will be high for the Blazers. Darin Hinshaw will look to continue the winning identity established in Birmingham.