UK’s Stoops knows what he’s getting with new offensive coordinator Eddie Gran


By Keith Taylor
Special to NKyTribune

Mark Stoops knows what he’s getting with new offensive coordinator Eddie Gran.

More than statistics, style, and just a feel for what to expect, Gran’s personality was enough to convince Stoops to hire Gran.

  Kentucky's new offensive boss Eddie Gran addresses the media Monday (Keith Taylor Photo)
Kentucky’s new offensive boss Eddie Gran addresses the media Monday (Keith Taylor Photo)

“The big thing for me was the person,” Stoops said Monday. “(He’s a) leader and I know exactly what I’m getting with Eddie Gran. That was the big thing.”

Since he was hired at Kentucky four years ago, Stoops has tried to lure Gran to the Bluegrass, but timing and other elements weren’t in Gran’s favor until last month.

“We talked when I got the job (at Kentucky),” Stoops said. “He was on my radar from Day 1.”

When Stoops made the call for the third time, Gran knew it was time to come to Kentucky.

“The big part of it was timing,” Gran said.

Stoops admitted following one season under former offensive boss Shannon Dawson, a change was needed on the offensive side of the football.

 Darin Hinshaw will coach quarterbacks and serve as co-offensive coordinator at UK next season (Keith Taylor Photo)
Darin Hinshaw will coach quarterbacks and serve as co-offensive coordinator at UK next season (Keith Taylor Photo)

“I just wasn’t comfortable with the overall direction and leadership (on that) side (of the ball),” Stoops said. “The X’s and O’s were good, but our players need to play better. That starts obviously with me and getting the assistant coaches to get the players to perform at a high level. We’ve got to put them in position to be successful in all areas. I just felt like a change was needed at that position.”

Stoops and Gran coached together at Florida State and Stoops hopes Gran’s experience of coaching in the Southeastern Conference will help get his team on track offensively.

“I think it’s very important they had SEC experience,” Stoops said. “We’re fortunate to have them.”

Gran is glad to be back in the league.

“It’s the SEC,” Gran said. “If you’re a football coach, you want to be in the best conference in the country. It’s a dream to be in this league and be able to compete.”

In addition to being head coach of the offense, Gran will serve as Stoops’ right-hand man as assistant head coach, taking charge of the running backs and special teams.

“He’s a great teacher, motivator and a true professional,” Stoops said. “He’s detailed, works his tail off, but most importantly, he’s a great leader.”

Like his predecessors Dawson and Neal Brown, Gran will have full reign of the offense.

“I fix the things I know I can fix, and that’s defense, special teams, and attitudes,” Stoops said. “Fixing offensive problems, I cannot do. That’s on the offensive coordinator, 100 percent. It will continue to be as we move forward.”

Gran said he’s prepared to handle praise and criticism that come with the job.

“I’ve got thick skin,” Gran said. “I get it.”

Hinshaw, co-offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach, also has a handle of what it takes to run an offense in the SEC. Hinshaw was part of Jim Chaney’s offensive staff at Tennessee and also has been an offensive coordinator, serving in that capacity at Middle Tennessee.

Although Kentucky has fallen short of its expectations during the past two seasons, Hinshaw isn’t worried about the recent lack of success, especially in the SEC.

“We feel like we’re coming in at the right time,” Hinshaw said. “It was a really hard decision to leave (Cincinnati). Offensively it was exciting, but we’re looking forward to doing that at Kentucky.”

For the past two seasons, Gran and Hinshaw have shared in the success of running a multiple pro-style offense at Cincinnati and have the same philosophy. The pair plans to keep the style intact at Kentucky, with Hinshaw relaying signals to Gran from the booth to the field. Based on input from Hinshaw, Gran makes the play call on the field.

“As we were trying to put this thing together, I thought it was extremely important to get both of those guys,” Stoops said. “We were able to do that.”

Gran said the players will have “no choice” but to buy into the system and plans to make the offense simple and fun.

“Offense is about execution and they’ve got to be disciplined and we feel like we can get that done,” Gran said.

Scott, Ansley promoted

Stoops said Chad Scott will coach the wide receivers and defensive backs coach Derrick Ansley has been named co-defensive coordinator. Stoops added that D.J. Eliot’s role as defensive coordinator won’t change with Ansley’s promotion.

Keith Taylor is a columnist and senior sports writer who covers University of Kentucky athletics for KyForward.com


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