“It’s a multiple pro-style offense,” Gran said. While Gran ran his own high-octane offense at Cincinnati, his scheme will represent a departure from the “Air Raid” Kentucky ran under Neal Brown and Dawson. The Bearcats ranked 38th nationally in scoring offense (33.8 points per game) and 57th nationally in rushing offense (177.9 yards per game). The success on the field at Cincinnati did not hurt either.Ĭincinnati ranked sixth nationally in total offense (537.8 yards per game) and passing offense (359.9 yards per game) this season. That Southeastern Conference coaching experience also earned the duo significant points from Stoops. Gran spent 15 seasons at Ole Miss, Auburn and Tennessee. Hinshaw previously coached for three seasons at Tennessee. “As we were trying to put this thing together, I thought it was extremely important to get both of those guys,” Stoops said. He quickly zeroed in on Gran as the man he wanted to lead the offense but also decided the best-case scenario would involve Hinshaw, who served as Cincinnati’s quarterbacks coach, following Gran to Lexington. With Dawson and wide receivers coach Tommy Mainord let go, Stoops had two openings to fill on his staff. “I was in my second year- first year and second year of coordinating and there’s a lot to that. “I’d been with coach (Tommy) Tuberville for a lot of years and the loyalty to him and Cincinnati,” Gran said. While Gran had been previously unwilling to come to Kentucky, the third approach from Stoops elicited a different result. “This year after I made the change, I pursued him and I wasn’t going to let him tell me no,” Stoops said. Stoops and Gran coached together at Florida State, and Stoops approached Gran about a spot on his staff during each of his first two offensive coordinator searches at Kentucky. In Gran, Stoops thinks he has found a leader capable of turning the current collection of offensive talent into a successful unit. That starts obviously with me and getting the assistant coaches to get the players to perform at a higher level.” “X’s and O’s were good, but our players need to play better. “I just wasn’t comfortable with the overall direction and leadership on that side,” Stoops said. Much of that optimism results from the additions of Gran and Hinshaw.Īfter one year with Shannon Dawson as his offensive coordinator, Stoops quickly determined he needed a new direction.ĭespite a vote of confidence for Dawson in the post-Louisville news conference, Stoops retained significant questions about that side of the ball.
“I know the state of the program, and I know how hard it is.” “We’re going to look for better results and more wins, but I know what we’re doing,” Stoops said.
#Eddie gran cincinnati full
In his first full news conference since the end of the 2015 season, Stoops could not avoid talk of the disappointment surrounding year three of his Kentucky tenure, but he repeatedly spoke of a renewed confidence in the direction of his program. On Monday Stoops officially introduced Gran, his new offensive coordinator and assistant head coach, and Hinshaw, his new co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. “But, after some time off, after getting these new hires, after being able to retain some of the quality coaches that I have here, I’m extremely excited, extremely optimistic as we move forward. “That’s a tough way to end the season,” Stoops said, referring to the second-half collapse in the season finale against Louisville. As Gran began playing music in his office, Stoops was not plagued by the lingering disappointment of 2015. The pair were quickly joined by new offensive assistants Eddie Gran and Darin Hinshaw. Hoping to finish some work, Stoops first ran into defensive coordinator D.J. – Not much about the second half of the 2015 season made Mark Stoops happy, but as he worked in his office Sunday night he could not help but smile.
Watch Video: Video | Mark Stoops introduces new assistants and talks about last season
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