Rams hire Liam Coen as OC; "no-brainer" for play-caller, says Stoops

The Los Angeles Rams have made it official, announcing former Kentucky play-caller Liam Coen as the franchise’s next offensive coordinator. While the Wildcats have moved on and found their next coordinator — Rich Scangarello was announced as the school’s next play-caller on Feb. 25 — the NFL world champions were still crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s on Coen’s contract.

As of today, though, Coen is officially a Ram.

“The Rams are bringing back a familiar face to their offensive coaching staff,” the Rams announced Wednesday. “Los Angeles has hired Liam Coen as their new offensive coordinator. Coen replaces Kevin O’Connell, who was named head coach of the Minnesota Vikings on Feb. 16.

“Coen returns to L.A. after spending the 2021 season as the University of Kentucky’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. … Prior to joining Kentucky’s coaching staff, Coen spent three years on the Rams’ staff from 2018-20. He served as assistant wide receivers coach in 2018 and 2019 before taking on assistant quarterbacks coach in 2020…”

Welcome back to LA, Liam Coen!

Excited to announce our new Offensive Coordinator! 🙌

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) March 2, 2022

How did Coen end up back with the Rams? For starters, it was the only job he strongly considered, the one that could force his hand to leave Lexington after just one year at Kentucky. In fact, he turned down multiple college jobs and one opportunity to become an offensive coordinator for another NFL franchise.

With other schools and franchises looking to pry him away, Coen showed “extreme loyalty” to Mark Stoops and the University of Kentucky.

“You know, we’ve talked through the process,” Stoops told KSR on Wednesday. “(Coen) showed extreme loyalty to us and, you know, just didn’t feel right leaving for other opportunities. He turned down college jobs without even thinking twice about it, not even considering it. He even turned down an NFL coordinating gig prior to the Rams, and that really showed a lot to me, that he cared about this place.”

Coen quickly declined the other college coaching jobs, and despite a major opportunity to coach for another NFL team, he realized that wasn’t the right fit, either.

“He cared about the people (at Kentucky), he wanted to see it through. Did not feel comfortable leaving,” Stoops told KSR. “So we talked about it and it was a situation that he wasn’t overly thrilled about anyway as far as personnel, so he turned it down.”

The Rams gave Coen is first shot in the NFL back in 2018. With head coach Sean McVay in need of a new offensive coordinator, Kentucky knew a potential reunion was on the table. After weighing all of his options, McVay zeroed in on Coen as his next right-hand man.

Does Stoops blame Coen for taking the job? Not at all. In fact, it was a “no-brainer” for the offensive guru looking to climb the football ranks. A return to Los Angeles made sense for both parties. If the job was offered, Stoops knew from the start he’d likely take it — even if Coen wasn’t sure himself.

“We knew in the back of our minds that the Rams could happen, but he really had no idea through the process that it was even an opportunity,” Stoops said. “But we knew in the back of our minds if that popped open and he had the opportunity to go back there, that was a hard one to turn down. That’s kind of a no-brainer being that he just came from there. They’re the world champs, Sean McVay is one heck of a dude to work for.

“I think all those things considered, it was something that he absolutely was going to do if he was offered that opportunity.”

The story didn’t end there between Kentucky and Coen, though. While he knew he was leaving, Coen was adamant about helping the Wildcats find their next coordinator, one he was confident would pick up where he left off. When Scangarello expressed interest, UK’s former play-caller knew he was the guy.

“I was very excited when I heard that (Scangarello) was interested in this opportunity. I was very pleased to say the least,” Stoops said. “Consulting with Liam and talking with Liam about it, we were both on the phone talking late at night. When this opportunity popped, he was like, ‘Man, that would be incredible.’ He was genuinely excited for us. I think you know anybody that has loyalty at all — I mean, he wants success for us. He wants success for Will Levis and our offense, all of us. He cares about these people in the program and was genuinely excited.”

Why was Coen so excited about Scangarello? He’s an offensive guru in his own right, someone Stoops says has forgotten more football than most will ever learn.

“You’re getting one heck of a football coach,” Stoops said of Scangarello. “It’s one of those interviews that I go through that’s almost like, ‘Are you kidding me? This guy has forgotten more football than most people will ever know.’ These last five years he’s been either a quarterback coach or a play-caller, a significant role in an NFL offense. He goes back to, I want to say ’15 with (Kyle) Shanahan and Atlanta, so he’s familiar with this offense. He’s run it in college, versions of it himself as a play-caller. And then having five years in the NFL and quite a few years under Shanahan, who I have ultimate respect for. Both Shanahan and McVay, they’re two of the best in the world at what they do.”

Hiring a coach from that coaching tree was Stoops’ top priority. But to find one with his experience, system familiarity and overall success, it was a clear home run.

“Getting Rich out of that (coaching) tree, in particular (with) quarterback play, it was really important for me,” Stoops said. “To hire somebody and keep the continuity, continue to build on all the good things we did this past year, but also have the ability to take Will to the next level. And with that, our offense will follow, our team will follow.

“We went out and hired arguably the best person we possibly can hire for this position.”

Coen may be in Los Angeles, but Kentucky’s pro-style offense isn’t going anywhere.