By LARRY VAUGHT
Mark Stoops had an inside contact with the Los Angeles Rams when he was contemplating hiring Liam Coen as UK’s new offensive coordinator.
Veteran NFL assistant coach Aaron Kromer is an Ohio native and has been LA’s run game coordinator.
“Coach Kromer’s son played and coached with my brother at Oklahoma and we know him from vacations and time in Florida,” Stoops said. “I know several other guys, so I know quite a few guys with the Rams and did a lot of research.”
Coen, 35, is a Rhode Island native and former UMass quarterback. He was the Rams’ assistant receivers coach for two years before coaching quarterbacks this season.
“You can tell by the people that make comments on Liam that he’s just a very sharp individual. Really has a good command, top to bottom,” Stoops said. “I think that is the area of expertise I was looking for with the quarterbacks and receivers.
“I think that’s the big key for me with the OC was being very detailed and having total control of the quarterback and receiver room because that’s the area where I feel like we need to make the biggest jump.”
Recruiting coordinator Vince Marrow believes in what Coen can bring to UK’s offense. He said he could tell recruits were excited when he dropped hints before signing day about the possible hiring of Cohen and how they felt after watching the Rams offense.
Marrow joked that he told Coen his hiring made it easier for him to recruit skilled players.
“Let’s be honest, everybody wants to be in that system. If you are a running back, a receiver, a tight end, you want to be in a system that’s like basketball and gets the ball to receivers but also running backs,” Marrow said.
The UK recruiting coordinator says skilled players will not only be able to show they can run block but also to play in a pro passing system “that’s going to make guys a lot more money” after their UK careers end.
“He’s a good communicator with the quarterbacks and if you communicate with the quarterback and he knows where to go with the ball, you will probably win one or two more games because there are throws that need to be made and sometimes they’re not made. That can be the difference in winning the game.”
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