Rich Scangarello loves the environment at Kroger Field. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Liam Coen spent one season as Kentucky’s offensive coordinator before going back to the NFL and Los Angeles Rams as offensive coordinator.
No problem. Kentucky coach Mark Stoops went back to the NFL and got Rich Scangarello from the San Francisco 49ers as his new offensive coordinator and even brought in Zach Yenser from the 49ers as offensive line coach.
Yenser has plenty of roots in Kentucky and seems destined to want to be at Kentucky a long time and continue the legacy with the offensive line that John Schlarman started.
But guess what? Scangarello might just be here a while, too.
“I’m in no hurry to be a head coach,” Scangarello said earlier this week. “My favorite thing in the world is coordinating. It’s fun, the strategy of it, getting guys to buy in and see them go, make it come alive.”
“The euphoria after the game, it was probably as good a feeling as I’ve had coaching that I can remember. Quite honestly, it’s different in the SEC than the NFL. It was a cool feeling. It really was a special feeling. I was really happy for Coach (Stoops), the situation, the players, it was fun to be a part of.”
Scangarello is UK’s third offensive coordinator in the last three years. Eddie Gran ran the offense in 2020 before being released by Stoops after that season. Coen took over in 2021 and now Scangarello is here and coming off a huge win at Florida.
But Scangarello also loved the game-day atmosphere at Kroger Field when UK opened the season with a victory over Miami of Ohio.
“It was awesome. I’ll tell you, it probably exceeded my expectations and it wasn’t even really a big SEC game,” Scangarello said. “It was just an opening game and I loved it: the environment, the (Cat) walk, all of it.”
“There are some things about college football, especially in the SEC, you can truly appreciate when you’re a part of it. It’s different in the NFL and honestly, it gave me chills.”
Scangarello is 49 years old and has been a collegiate coach for 17 years compared to coaching in the NFL for seven years. He said Tuesday what he likes best is teaching.
“I feel like I was put on this planet to teach. It’s just my subject is football. I love it and I’m passionate about it,” said Rich Scangarello.
“The game is slowing down for me. I’ve been around some incredibly talented mentors that have taught me a lot and I’m applying that now, just enjoying it. I’ve had more fun coaching here the last couple months than I can remember having ever.
“I’m going to continue to do that. I work for a really good man (Stoops) and a really good program. I will tell you, we coach guys like they’re pro players. They’re in college, but I feel like we’re going to be able to recruit who we want because they want to play in the NFL, they’re going to see that and it’s going to make us better too. I can’t wait to be a part of this for a long time.”
