Brian Brohm and Joe Moorhead reportedly in mix for Kentucky OC

The Kentucky Wildcats’ search for a new offensive coordinator is winding down as the early signing period begins soon.

Head coach Mark Stoops said he hoped to have a hire made in time for college football’s first signing period, which begins Dec. 16.

To this point, the only candidate to emerge that Kentucky is showing real interest in is Rams assistant quarterbacks coach Liam Coen.

Now, Matt Jones is reporting that Coen and Oregon offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead are the two favorites for Kentucky’s next offensive playcaller.

In addition, Justin Rowland adds that former Louisville Cardinals quarterback Brian Brohm is also in the mix.

Brohm, aged 35, has been Purdue’s Co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach since 2017. He was previously the quarterbacks coach at Western Kentucky (2016) and has been coaching alongside his brother, Jeff Brohm, ever since breaking into the coaching ranks in 2016. He’s never been a playcaller at any level of football, but he was a very successful collegiate quarterback at Louisville, spent three years in the NFL, then had brief stints in the UFL and CFL.

Moorhead, 47, is in his first season as Oregon’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. That was the role he held at Penn State from 2016-17 before being named Mississippi State’s head coach in 2018. He was fired from that role this past offseason, despite guiding the Bulldogs to consecutive bowl games.

Of the three candidates mentioned, Moorhead has the best track record. His offenses at Penn State helped the Nittany Lions go 22-5 during his tenure.

In August of 2017, Moorhead was named the No. 1 rising assistant in college football by Sports Illustrated and Yahoo. He may have floundered as a head coach in the SEC, but he’s still a great playcaller who would be a huge hire for the Wildcats.

Any of these three guys would be solid hires, so hopefully, Stoops is able to make the best hire possible for Kentucky football this coming week.