Liam Coen (UK Athletics)
Having a chance to coach in the NFL was a “dream come true” for new Kentucky offensive coordinator Liam Coen.
“If you are a football coach, it (the NFL) is truly your playground,” Coen said. “It is football all day. Any time you could walk into the coaches’ office and there could be a high level of conversation going on and you will learn something.”
Coen learned several valuable lessons in the NFL that had nothing to do with X’s and O’s.
“It really taught me the level and way to communicate with people, especially young athletes, is changing,” Coen said. “There was no yelling and screaming and cussing and swearing on the field with the (Los Angeles) Rams. There just wasn’t.
“We talked to each other as equals. It was not, ‘Hey Coach,’ but it was ‘Liam.’ I learned a lot about that with the Rams.”
He didn’t have to worry about coaching hustle and effort in the NFL, either, like college coaches often do.
“If you don’t do those things you are out and will not be on field in the NFL,” Coen said. “You are just always coaching ball and guys are always looking for an edge over opponents.
“They are all the best and all are trying to find a niche to get to a second or third contract or Pro Bowl. They are all phenomenal all-around players who truly wanted to be great and always went about their business as such.”
Coen said he saw “greatness every day” with LA defensive tackle Aaron Donald, one of the NFL’s best players. He also got to learn from head coach Sean McVeigh — “one of the best in the business.”
Coen said Donald and McVeigh had one common quality.
“You could see going about their business every day made a huge difference. They were always working in their own ways,” the UK offensive coordinator said.
