Rich Scangarello, San Francisco 49ers QB Coach, reportedly hired as Kentucky offensive coordinator

We heard that Mark Stoops was going to “pull a rabbit out of a hat” to find its next offensive coordinator. San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello certainly fits that criteria.

Kentucky was looking into the Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan coaching tree to find Liam Coen’s successor. Stoops went directly to the source, hiring Shanahan’s trusted quarterbacks coach to be the Wildcats’ play-caller, according to the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The report was later confirmed by The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman.

The University of Kentucky is hiring #49ers quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello as its new offensive coordinator, per sources.

A widely respected QB developer, Scangarello replaces Liam Coen, who took the #Rams OC job and left behind the zone scheme Scangarello knows well.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 25, 2022

Scangarello’s name was not previously shared as a candidate in the coaching search. However, he was connected to the search through another candidate, Rob Calabrese. Scangarello helped the latter get into the league during his tenure with the Denver Broncos after the two worked together at Wagner, an FCS program on Long Island.

A veteran in the collegiate and professional levels, he has seven years of NFL experience, primarily coaching quarterbacks. Last year he played a significant role in Kyle Shanahan’s decision to trade up to get Trey Lance. Scangarello called plays for the Denver Broncos in the first season of Vic Fangio’s tenure.

This is the second San Francisco assistant to join the Kentucky football team this offseason. Former 49ers assistant offensive line coach Zach Yenser will lead the Big Blue Wall this fall. It’s safe to assume these two will be on the same page when spring practice begins in a few weeks.

Kentucky was looking for continuity in its next offensive coordinator. By plucking Kyle Shanahan’s quarterbacks coach from San Francisco, the Wildcats should be able to build on the success Coen created in 2021 without any significant setbacks.

The Rich Scangarello Resume

• UC Davis (1998–1999) Graduate assistant
• Idaho (2000) Graduate assistant
• Carleton (2001) Offensive coordinator
• Idaho (2002–2003) Quarterbacks coach
• UC Davis (2004–2007) Wide receivers coach
• UC Davis (2008) Co-offensive coordinator & wide receivers coach
• Oakland Raiders (2009) Offensive quality control coach
• Millsaps (2010–2011) Assistant head coach & offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach
• Northern Arizona (2012–2014) Offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach
• Atlanta Falcons (2015) Offensive quality control coach
• Wagner (2016) Offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach
• San Francisco 49ers (2017–2018) Quarterbacks coach
• Denver Broncos (2019) Offensive coordinator
• Philadelphia Eagles (2020) Senior offensive assistant
• San Francisco 49ers (2021) Quarterbacks coach