Darin Hinshaw hiring announced by Kentucky Football

After announcing the hiring of Eddie Gran, it didn't take long for the Kentucky Wildcats to follow that up with the announcement that Darin Hinshaw was also coming to the Bluegrass.

Hinshaw, who helped guide some of the best offenses in Cincinnati Bearcats history, has been named UK'd co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, head coach Mark Stoops has announced Tuesday.

"Darin has a great offensive mind and his experience includes time in the Southeastern Conference," Stoops said. "I've been impressed with how well they've produced at Cincinnati and how prolific they have been in throwing the football."

Hinshaw joins the UK staff after serving on the UC coaching staff since 2013. Like Gran, Hinshaw has experience in the SEC, which helped make him an ideal candidate for Stoops to hire.

Before his time with the Bearcats, Hinshaw coached three seasons with the Tennessee Volunteers, including aa stint as their recruiting coordinator in 2012. Back then, Rivals.com ranked Hinshaw as one of the top-10 recruiters in college football in 2011.

I thought Eddie Gran was a good hire for Kentucky. Think Gran + Hinshaw is an excellent hire. Hinshaw is so good with QBs & other coaches.

— FootballScoop Staff (@FootballScoop) December 29, 2015

Now, he's back in the best league hoping to help make UK a program that can compete with the best.

"This is a great opportunity to be back in the SEC and I'm really looking forward to it," Hinshaw said. "I've always looked at Kentucky as a program that has the potential to be very, very good and we can put up the points and yards that will equal wins and help get us to bowl games. That's why I'm taking this opportunity.  I'm very excited to be back in the SEC and be a part of Kentucky and the Big Blue Nation."

Hinshaw has helped build record-setting offenses in each of his previous stops. He helped lead UT to 5,711 yards in 2012, the second-most in school history. His star wide receiver, Cordarrelle Patterson, a First-Team All-SEC selection, set UT's single-season record with 1,858 all-purpose yards.

Fellow Vols receiver, Justin Hunter, who earned Second-Team All-SEC honors, grabbed 73 balls for 1,083 yards and nine TDs, the second-best single-season mark for receptions.

Hinshaw also guided/managed quarterback Tyler Bray (that guy) to a record-setting start to the 2011 season as the signal caller set a school record for completion percentage in a game. He also started the year with the most passing yards in a three-game span in UT history.

A Punta Gorda, Fla., native, Hinshaw had a memorable college career as a quarterback for the UCF  Knights in the 90s. He set numerous school records and finished as the career leader in every major passing category, including yards (9,000) and TDs (82).

Darin Hinshaw Coaching Career
Kentucky - Co-offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach - 2016 
Cincinnati - Passing game coordinator, quarterbacks coach - 2013-15 
Tennessee - Wide receivers coach - 2012 
Tennessee - Quarterbacks coach - 2010-11 
Memphis - Wide receivers coach - 2007-09 
Georgia Southern - Offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach - 2006 
Middle Tennessee State - Co-offensive coordinator - 2003-05 
Middle Tennessee State - Running backs coach - 2001-02 
Central Florida - Quarterbacks coach - 2000 
Central Florida - Graduate assistant - 1999

Following his playing days at UCF, Hinshaw began a career in pro football. After a brief stint with the Cleveland Browns, he spent two years with the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League, and after his playing days were over, has been coaching ever since.

Hinshaw and his wife, Pam, have four children: daughters Sydney, Hayley and Carley; and son Darin Jr.

Welcome to the Big Blue Nation Coach Hinshaw!