Traveling Liam Coen
February 6th, 2024
Traveling man.
Joe has to think this is not a good thing.
Joe remembers how former Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians used to tell the story of a Virginia Tech team staffer. When Arians told the staffer he wanted to get into coaching, the staffer responded, “Boy, you better put your house on wheels.”
Reading the following excerpt from the latest column typed by figure-skating-admiring, dishwasher etiquette-instructing, redshirt-quarterback-annoyed, anti-public-pot-smoking, cognac-splurging, clock-shopping, Olympics-flag-football-frowning, Concrete Mixer-spilling, Mother Jones-reading, airport-pianist-listening, Twitter-revolting, Purdue-basketball-confused, combine-fatigued, Bavarian-pretzel-chomping, teeth-brushing, haircut-fascinated, Circa-bewildered, elf-rattled, green-lawns-frowning, soggy-socks-wearing, Daylight-Savings-Time-scared, crossword-puzzle-puzzled, Elon-Musk-peeved, Barstool-Sports-triggered, almond-milk-sipping, hot-dog-eating-contest-protesting, mock-draft-scowling, L.L.-Bean-wearing, tennis fans’ advocate, Second Amendment abolitionist, Mike-Florio-arguing, parrot-insensitive, chewing-with-his-mouth-open, soup-gulping, California-train-romancing, anti-football proliferation, outhouse-admiring, airline-napping, steerage-flying, Yogi Berra-worshiping, urinal-picture-taking, video-game-playing, Taylor-Swift-listening, pickpocket-thwarting, Bucs-uniform-frowning, Allie LaForce-smitten, Big-Ten-Network-hating, pedestrian-bumping, olive oil-lapping, popcorn-munching, coffee-slurping, fried-chicken-eating, oatmeal-loving, circle-jerking, craft-beer-chugging, cricket-watching, scone-loathing, college football-naïve, baseball-box-score-reading, NPR-honk, filthy-hotel-staying, fight-instigating, barista-training, Budweiser-tolerant, baseball-scorecard-keeping, pasta-feasting, vomit-dodging scrooge, Kay-Adams-following, Coors-Light-souring, pineapple-upside-down-cake-eating social activist and NFL insider Peter King, of NBC Sports fame, Arians’ story flashed in Joe’s head.
You see, Coen doesn’t exactly put down roots.
I think the last 15 years in the life of new Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Liam Coen have been … interesting. Let’s hopscotch America with Mr. Coen:
* 2009, Huntsville, Ala.: Coen’s a member of the Alabama Vipers Arena League team.
* 2010, Providence, R.I.: Coen starts coaching at Brown, as QB coach.
* 2011, Kingston, R.I.: Coen moves 23 miles south to be the pass-game coordinator and QB coach at Rhode Island.
* 2012-’13, Providence, R.I.: Coen moves back to Brown as QB coach.
* 2014-’15: Amherst, Mass.: Coen heads 80 minutes west to be UMass’ pass-game coordinator and QB coach.
* 2016-’17, Orono, Maine: Coen just loves New England. He moves to the University of Maine to be offensive coordinator.
* 2018-’19, Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Coen’s big break. He’s hired as the assistant WR coach under Sean McVay with the Rams.
* 2020, Thousand Oaks, Calif.: McVay moves Coen to Rams’ assistant QB coach.
* 2021, Lexington, Ky.: Coen is appointed Kentucky’s offensive coordinator and QB coach.
* 2022, Thousand Oaks, Calif.: McVay names Coen the Rams’ offensive coordinator.
* 2023, Lexington, Ky.: In one of the oddest coaching moves ever, Coen moves back to be Kentucky’s offensive coordinator and QB coach, completing the Thousand Oaks-to-Lexington-to-Thousand Oaks-to-Lexington move … in the span of 36 months.
* 2024, Tampa, Fla.: The Bucs name Coen offensive coordinator.
Dizzy yet?
Based on this, Joe has a hunch if Coen has any success with the Bucs at all, he may just be a one-and-done, sort of like Dave Canales.
And that’s good for Coen. But what would it say for the Bucs having offensive coordinators get the hell out of town so quickly?
Poor Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield. It seems as though he has a new coordinator each year.
February 6th, 2024 at 9:15 am
It seems like some reporter somewhere should do some digging into the Coen/Kentucky/Rams polyamorous triangle thing.
February 6th, 2024 at 9:17 am
The rams to Ky, back to Rams, then back to Ky is really weird… especially when coaching under Mcvey garantees you a path to big things… and it was ugly at Ky last year.
February 6th, 2024 at 9:18 am
Poor “Bucs” QB Baker Mayfield? I’m not so sure the Glazers are gonna match the market for Mayfield…..$35mm.
February 6th, 2024 at 9:21 am
Do we really need to have a 50 descriptor laden paragraph Joe?
Easily the dumbest way to write an article.
AI can’t replace you soon enough.
February 6th, 2024 at 9:25 am
…on the positive side, Coen was hired back with several employers, so he must have been highly thought of. But yes Joe, one and done if Coen does good job.
February 6th, 2024 at 9:26 am
I said that when they hired him one and done.
February 6th, 2024 at 9:28 am
Its really not that strange when you add context and think about it for a second. Huge promotion to the NFL, but your job is the OC for a McVay team. Might as well be a lifeguard at the summer olympics. So he goes back down where he can actually have a meaningful role. Its like when Beinemy took a lateral job to get out of KC and actually be able to call plays. Its not that baffling really. The earlier and very frequent bouncing around is not anything i care about at this point, this isnt ivy league football no more.
February 6th, 2024 at 9:29 am
If he goes on to another HC job then might as well start calling it the Bowles coaching tree lol. For a defensive coach he’s apparently a savant at identifying offensive coaching talent
February 6th, 2024 at 9:30 am
“Huge promotion to the NFL, but your job is the OC for a McVay team. Might as well be a lifeguard at the summer olympics. So he goes back down where he can actually have a meaningful role”
That was my kind of thought on why he’d have gone back to Kentucky
February 6th, 2024 at 9:31 am
Curious what specifically was ugly in Kentucky last year.
It appears the following.
2021. Coen at Kentucky. Offense scores 32 per game.
2022. Coen not at Kentucky. Offense scores 20 per game.
2023. Coen back at Kentucky. Offense scores 29 per game.
If you think coaching makes a difference. Maybe Coen made a difference at Kentucky.
February 6th, 2024 at 9:33 am
McVay wouldn’t let him call plays.
February 6th, 2024 at 9:36 am
With Bowles at the helm it’s pretty much a lock that there will be a new OC every season.
Like all great defensive coaches Bowles is searching for his Bradshaw/Marino/Simms/Manning/Brady /Roethlisberger at QB to lead the offensive ship to create long term success.
I think he believes it’s Mayfield whose career has a shot to follow the Drew Brees arc.
February 6th, 2024 at 9:40 am
Geno
Always enjoy your posts because you actually just provide facts and let them speak for themselves.
You are the Jack Webb/Joe Friday of Dragnet…waaaay before your time but his tag line when interviewing people..”Just the facts mam…”
February 6th, 2024 at 9:46 am
If there is any QB in the NFL who can handle coaching changes, it’s Baker Mayfield.
Perhaps the beach and Fla weather will keep him for more than one year…..if he’s successful, he’ll be a HC like Canales…..so what?
February 6th, 2024 at 9:55 am
Obviously Bowles needs a very good OC that has little interest in becoming a head coach. It’s possible since not everyone wants an administrative job. However, since most OC’s who are successful may wish the upgrade to HC, it’s problematic having a defensive minded HC at the helm.
February 6th, 2024 at 10:02 am
like him more before I saw this.
He’s a job hopper. Now we know why he took the job.
February 6th, 2024 at 10:03 am
Maybe the Glazers and Licht should expect their multimillion dollar head coach to have sufficient command of offense as well as defense, so as to maintain system continuity from one year to the next. It seemed unacceptable the year before when Bowles was incapable of course-correcting Leftwich. The alternative is for the Glazers to make the OC job as rewarding as Bowles’ position, so they stay!
February 6th, 2024 at 10:03 am
Another one hit wonder.
February 6th, 2024 at 10:07 am
Pretty sure the Rams – UK yoyo came up in the interview. And I agree with everyone else that he went to the Rams in 2022 for a big pay raise, then back to UK for the ability to call plays – again.
February 6th, 2024 at 10:09 am
@ Joe
“he may just be a one-and-done, sort of like Dave Canales.”
Canales was offered a head coaching job with a 6 year fully guaranteed contract.
I highly doubt that would happen two seasons in a row.
Bouncing around from town to town is just the life of an assistant football coach who is trying to make a name for himself. You go where the opportunities are whenever you have the chance at a promotion…
I think it is impressive that he was never fired. He moved on because he was moving up. Not because he failed at any one stop. The fact that the Rams had him back several times tells me the dude can coach – I trust Sean McVay’s judgement.
February 6th, 2024 at 10:18 am
Won’t matter much .
If TB gets bounced next year ,he will be gone with him
February 6th, 2024 at 10:21 am
Elite Vita … ‘Since most OC’s who are successful may wish to upgrade to HC, it’s problematic having a defensive minded HC at the helm.’
You could say the same thing regarding successful DCs wanting to upgrade to HC who work for an offensive-minded HC. Most successful coordinators want to move up I’m sure (a LOT more money & control?). I don’t see that as ‘problematic’ though; it’s just reality.
The ‘problem’ comes in when you hire a coordinator who ISN’T SUCCESSFUL. What I think is even more ‘problematic’ (for most teams) is having a HC who is dual-hatted as one of the coordinators. It’s really really hard to serve 2 masters; either the HC hat takes priority in terms of time allocation, or the coordinator hat does. The key to making it work IMO is to have a truly OUTSTANDING counterpart wearing the other coordinator’s hat.
A good example is Andy Reid having Steve Spagnuolo as his DC since 2019. KC’s defense was meh prior to his hiring, and since then they’ve only missed being in the Top-10 defensively once. Pair a great offense with a great defense and you end up with a perpetual contender.
February 6th, 2024 at 10:28 am
Not concerned about the stops. And yes having autonomy at Tampa with play calls for a defensive HC who stays out of your way is the beat situation he has been in. He also has way more knowledge of SEC talent than any other candidate. If you aren’t drafting SEC talent, you might be making a mistake. Man I hope Ray Davis is available in the 3rd. Probably NOT gonna happen, but who knows. The Lowman Award winner Sinnott at FB would be a thing of beauty if we do run a true WCO. I Formation actually looked fun for a minute and then Canales never went back to it.
February 6th, 2024 at 10:34 am
Boss, every coach in the NFL is a job hopper. Until he’s not. Every single head coach iny assistant worth their salt in the NFL has been to a plethora of different spots. Then they hopefully latch on to something and stay for a bit. Nothing different here.
February 6th, 2024 at 10:34 am
Almost like the Buccaneers should get with the times and hire an offensive head coach…. weird
February 6th, 2024 at 10:35 am
Joe, it’s called the life of a professional coach. Caching staff will get fired, assistants leave to pursue other opportunities to further their careers, that’s how it is.
February 6th, 2024 at 10:35 am
Well, having him do such a good job that he gets a HC gig is a nice problem to have. I’m not concerned.
February 6th, 2024 at 10:51 am
Doesn’t matter. I still think Bowles won’t make it another year. He got lucky to get through this year with a weak schedule and division. Next year will be harder and I bet he gets fired.
February 6th, 2024 at 11:02 am
My head is gonna explode if we run up the middle on 1st and 10 next year
February 6th, 2024 at 11:02 am
Canales got the job they all aspire to – head coach. He’s not gonna kick that back. So if Coen leaves after 2024 it means he got at least similar performance out of the offense, or the Toadster regresses to his mean and they’re all on the bricks.
Poor $35 million-ish Baker indeed.
February 6th, 2024 at 11:03 am
Thats the issue with having a defensive minded head coach. He has to hire someone to call plays, as soon as there is any success, that OC is getting a head coaching opportunity. Its a revolving door, sooner or later your going to hire an average or bad OC. Not every young guy is going to workout, eventually that will cost the defensive minded head coach his job…
February 6th, 2024 at 11:48 am
I’ve never seen a successful organization or manager who didn’t delight in the success of their hires…their PEOPLE!!! It not only speaks incredibly well of the organization/manager who FINDS and trains these people it obviously helps with morale.
Who isn’t attracted to an organization that helps guys move up in their careers?
The more the merrier as A BETTER GROUP OF CANDIDATES rush to join an organization that churns out SUCCESSFUL people?
February 6th, 2024 at 11:53 am
Several of us including myself mentioned this many times that over the weekend that Coen don’t seem to stay put. Only thing we can say is , he went back in forth between the same 2 teams. On the other hand almost any coordinator hired will leave for a HC job so Coen would not be along. I personally thought Canales would at least hung around to get 1 more year under his belt before he left. We see what happened there
February 6th, 2024 at 12:09 pm
Why do people keep saying that this coming season is a harder schedule. It’s not. It’s about the same as last year.
February 6th, 2024 at 12:31 pm
I have been saying this guy hasn’t committed to anyone really…..
No one better seemed to want the job so we got what we got!
February 6th, 2024 at 12:34 pm
Well be shopping for another oc next season
February 6th, 2024 at 1:43 pm
So, as I’ve said in these here pages for LITERALLY A DECADE. “Stop hiring DVs as the HC!!!!” 4 of the last 5 HCs have been Defensive coaches. (Stop trying to bring back the late 90s Bucs!! Get w the times!) and two of the last three offensive HCs for this team won super bowls. Think there might be something to that?
If you want continuity you can’t have a DC move to HC. We’re going to do this dance every year til they can Bowles.
February 6th, 2024 at 3:41 pm
Wrote a little song about it goes like this:
“Lord, I was born a ramblin Liam
Tryin to make a livin and doin the best I can
When its time for leavin I hope fans understand
That I was born a ramblin Liam”
Thanks!
I’ll be here every Tues from 3-6
February 6th, 2024 at 3:59 pm
First off “Rigged,” thank you for reading this horrible site.
Second off, AI can’t replace Joe. 🙂 AI will replace the AP Style writing of the just-about-dead fishwraps.
AI can’t replace Joe. AI has no clue what is brewing in Joe’s brain and what may come out next from his Hooters wings-stained fingers because not even Joe knows. 🙂
February 6th, 2024 at 5:38 pm
It doesn’t just seem that way, it’s actually true. He’s had a new OC every season he’s been in the league.
February 6th, 2024 at 10:21 pm
He’s only one and done if he aspires to be an NFL HC and some team offers him a job next year. Or if he sucks this year.