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It appears the Kentucky Wildcats’ search for an offensive coordinator is winding down.
Late Friday night, KSR’s Matt Jones provided several big updates on Kentucky’s search for a new offensive playcaller.
The first bit of news is that Kentucky is still trending toward making a hire by next Tuesday. That would be Dec. 15th, one day before the early signing period begins. Head coach Mark Stoops has previously said he plans to have a hire made by the 16th.
The second update was the most notable, as Jones says that Rams assistant quarterbacks coach Liam Cohen is a candidate.
UPDATE:
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) December 12, 2020
I am told by a good source there are three main candidates right now for the UK Offensive Coordinator job
The one I can confirm now is LA Rams Asst QB Coach Liam Coen
Another is a current OC
Not sure on the third
Justin Rowland of Cats Illustrated confirmed this and added that Rams passing game coordinator Shane Waldron is also a candidate, though Jones followed that up by suggesting Waldron is no longer in the mix.
Coen, 35 years old, has been with the Rams since 2018, first serving as an assistant wide receivers coach before moving to be an assistant quarterbacks coach this year. His only time as an offensive coordinator was two years he spent at Maine (FCS) from 2016-17. He also had stints as both a passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach at UMass and Rhode Island.
Waldron, now 41, has bounced from tight ends coach to passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach. His only title for 2020 has been passing game coordinator. His only experience as an offensive coordinator was one year as the OC at Buckingham Browne & Nichols School in Massachusetts, so he has never called plays at the college or NFL level.
Other candidates suggested over the last week include Oklahoma assistant Cale Gundy and NC State OC Tim Beck. Whatever Stoops decides, it sounds like we won’t have to wait much longer.