Liam Coen talking to the UK offense during the game Saturday against Eastern Kentucky. (Vicky Graff Photo)
The question dealt with Kentucky’s offense having only 112 plays in two games, one of the nation’s lowest totals, but the answer by coach Mark Stoops provided a lot of insights into the stress offensive coordinator Liam Coen puts on himself.
“Liam is harder on himself than anybody is. He’s always been that way, his first go around here (in 2021), there’s many times early — people think I’m high strung — I’m like, ‘Dude, we’re going to be ok just stay the course, stay with it, stay positive,’” Stoops said Monday.
“He’s very hard on himself but I think it’s different with the clock (rule changes) and play calling and with us pro style, sometimes the game can go quick.”
Still putting that pressure on himself combined with the countless hours almost every college coach works could have led to the medical situation that Coen had Sunday af the UK football complex that led to him being hospitalized.
Stoops didn’t use Coen’s name but the intent was obvious when he started Monday’s press conference remembering heroes who lost their lives but also heroes who saved lives on 9/11.
“It doesn’t take you very long to be in any type of situation where you need first responders and/or doctors and it happens to hit very close to home with me today and the appreciation and need for those folks,” Stoops said. “On this day, I think it’s certainly fitting to remember them and thank them and pray for all the people that lost their lives.
“It has been a challenging day or so for us and we will continue to push forward as always. I think the prognosis of things look good with the people in our office and that will be back in our office. I will leave it at that on that subject.”
Stoops would not discuss who might be calling the UK offense against Akron Saturday but said the team would be fully prepared.
“We’ve got it under control. We’ve worked extremely hard after a challenging day. We had a good work night and got some things in place. We will move forward and get corrections made from this past game and get going on Akron, and have already done both,” the uK coach said.
Coen’s medical episode came about a year after Eastern Kentucky head coach Walt Wells, a former Stoops assistant at UK, had a heart attack in the EKU football office and had to be revived twice. He was back on the sideline about a week later.
“It’s always a challenge because we have a very tight staff and a big group,” Stoops said about the challenge of having someone close to him having a medical emergency. “I’ve been here 11 years, I don’t think I’ve ever gotten emotional on this thing (at the press conference), so don’t try to get me.
“The emotions could come out on me right now because, you know, we love each other. And when we work, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves. So, when anything happens to any of our staff members, it’s hard. I can’t dive into too much but we have a lot of special people there.”
13 Responses
I pray Coach Coen is ok. If ever a football team needs him it’s now. That said, football is not life or death. Take care of yourself Coach, and your family.
Ditto that! Perfectly said!!! Prayers!
Look coach Stoops – liam gave his all trying toimprove this pathetic group of hopeless wannabe football imitators , while youand other coaches sought to babysit these useless group of losers !!! Get off uour asses. & stop trying to be a best friend & punish them : 250,00 per hold . 500.00 for first false start – 500.00 for second & make them sit for all repetitive actions – similar actions for all other infractios !!!Only way to get through to hard headed foolish kids Your actions just DON’T work !!! We fans deserve better results than what you have produced. and perhaps . Just perhaps wont produce such harmful results for your staff as well . And perhaps the mere threat of such actios will help awaken this team from thier perpetual sleep !!!!! Good Luck Coach
Go root on your cards and keep your misinformed comments to yourself.You know what stoops and staff took head on when they came here and we are now a respectable program not a doormat team.
What a dick
Hey dude he has done more for this team than any other coach so lay off. Your not a Kentucky Wildcats fan I see so go cheer for Vanderbilt.
What a useless comment. Your a special kind of stupid
Wow! Way to be supportive and call these kids “losers”
You follow that diatribe with “good luck coach”?
Billy Walls is an idiot. Wish a quick recovery for coach. As for Stoops, you’re doing a great job. Stay the course. Playing in the best football conference is difficult and most football fans realize it’s an uphill battle given the disparity in money dedicated to football operations as compared to the rest of the league. Go CATS!
Good Job Coach Stoops.
You and your people are human and we all have chinks in our armor. But character and love are not armor, they are our core values….GOOD JOB COACH❣️😎
Walls, you obviously don’t understand progress. Having been a veteran of some very challenging years with this program and to see the run they have put together recently makes me proud to be a UK football alum.
I live in S. Louisiana and college football here is to die for. The SEC is held in high esteem and if you represent a competitive program that is not successful you will take a lot of heat. Granted UK is not playing for the SEC Championship every year but they are highly competitive and getting closer to that goal. They have produced several bowl teams with winning outcomes. I am proud to say that I am a UK FOOTBALL ALUM because I feel that we will be well represented each week. Coming from where this program has been to where they are now is PROGRESS.
Some people who always will be the naysayers never see the light of day and people like this Walls clown have never been thru a "JUNCTION BOYS" day of practice in their life.
Question is "why are you even a fan". Go root for someone else. We don’t need fans like you.
PRAYERS 4 COACH,GO BIG BLUE💙