JACKSONVILLE – Five things to know about new Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen.
1. He coordinated one of the NFL's best offenses in 2024. Coen, a 15-year coaching veteran, served as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offensive coordinator this past season after serving as the Los Angeles Rams' coordinator in 2022 and the University of Kentucky's offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach in 2021 and again in 2023. The Buccaneers' offense, after ranking 23rd in the NFL in yards (313.0) and 20th in points (20.5) per game in 2023, ranked third in yards (399.5) and fourth in points (29.5) in 2024. The Buccaneers in 2024 were the only team in the NFL Top 5 in rushing and passing offensively, ranking fourth with 149.2 yards per game rushing and third with 250.4 yards per game passing. The '24 season marked Coen's first season calling plays on a full-time basis. Head Coach Sean McVay called plays much of the 2022 season when Coen was coordinator for the Rams.
2. He's from the McVay coaching "tree." Coen is the latest of a rapidly-growing list of NFL head coaches to have worked under McVay, considered one of the brightest young offensive – and overall – coaches in the NFL. Coen - after coaching stops at Brown (2010, 2012-2013), Rhode Island (2011), UMass (2014-2015) and Maine (2016-2017) – was hired by McVay in the latter's second season as the Rams' head coach. He worked with the Rams as assistant wide receivers coach (2018-2019) and assistant quarterbacks coach (2020) before spending a season at Kentucky as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach. He then re-joined McVay as offensive coordinator in 2022 before re-joining Kentucky as coordinator/quarterbacks coach in 2023. Current NFL head coaches who also worked as assistants for McVay: Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers (2019–present); Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals (2019–present); Kevin O'Connell, Minnesota Vikings (2022–present); Raheem Morris, Atlanta Falcons (2024–present).
3. He's a UMass legend. Coen is a member of the University of Massachusetts Athletics Hall of Fame, having started at quarterback for the Minutemen and leading them to a 37-14 record from 2005-08. He was an Atlantic 10 All-Conference third-team selection in 2006 and was a CAA All-Conference second-team in 2007 and 2008 and finished 18th all-time in FCS/I-AA career passing yards (11,031) and 20th passing touchdowns (90). He holds the UMass career records for passing yards (11,031), attempts (1,303), completions (830), touchdown passes (90), completion percentage (.639), passer efficiency (152.92) and yards per pass attempt (8.47) – and helped the Minutemen to the 2006 NCAA FCS National Championship Game. He also led the Minutemen to an NCAA postseason appearance in 2007 and conference titles in 2006 and 2007.
4. He has been destined to be a coach for a long, long time. Coen's father, Tim, told John Romano of the Tampa Bay Times the following story shortly after Liam was hired as Buccaneers offensive coordinator last offseason. Tim was coaching high school football in Rhode Island when Liam was four. An assistant on the staff noticed four-year-old Liam drawing up the wishbone offense in detail on a chalkboard. "He didn't watch cartoons or movies like other kids; he would watch tapes of my high school team," Tim Coen told Romano. "You could hear him from the other room like he was broadcasting the game. I'd be on the couch watching TV at night, and he would put pillows on the ground and have me throw him the ball while he would make diving catches. It wasn't like I ever had to push him toward this. He just loved every second of it." Coen told Romano, "I wanted to be a head football coach. My early years of childhood were not really playing with action figures or Ninja Turtles. They were figurines and footballs and drawing up plays. That's been my passion since, really, I can remember."
5. He's up-and-coming – and he's young. Coen became the third-youngest coach in the NFL behind McVay – who turns 39 Friday – and Seattle Seahawks Head Coach Mike Macdonald (37). He became the fifth head coach in the NFL currently under 40, with O'Connell of the Vikings and Shane Steichen of the Indianapolis Colts also 39. He became the youngest head coach in Jaguars history at 39 years and approximately two months with Jack Del Rio 39 and approximately nine months when he was hired as head coach in 2003. Ages upon hiring of other previous Jaguars head coaches: Tom Coughlin, 47, 1994; Mike Mularkey, 50, 2012; Gus Bradley, 46, 2013; Doug Marrone, 54, 2017; Urban Meyer, 57, 2021; and Doug Pederson, 53, 2022.
Got our guy! 🎉 The Jaguars have agreed to terms with head coach Liam Coen. Swipe through photos of Liam Coen throughout the years. ➡️
TAMPA, FL - August 23, 2024 - Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before the preseason game between the Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs won the game, 24-14. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Maine Offensive coordinator Liam Coen passes to players before an NCAA college football game at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field against Maine, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, in East Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
TAMPA, FL - November 27, 2024 - Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during practice at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - January 12, 2025 - Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 and Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the NFC Wild Card game between the Washington Commanders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs lost the game, 23-20. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Massachusetts football team quarterback Liam Coen tosses the ball during media day practice drills at McGuirk Stadium in Amherst, Mass. Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2007. Massachusetts opens its season at home against Holy Cross Sept. 1. In 2006, UMass advanced to the Div. 1-AA national championship where they lost to Appalachian State. (AP Photo/Nancy Palmieri)
INGLEWOOD, CA - December 15, 2024 - Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before the game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Chargers. The Bucs won the game, 40-17. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - March 14, 2024 - Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers headshot taken at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Massachusetts' quarterback Liam Coen (12) competes against Northeastern including Craig Kenney (34), Kevin Brown (37) and Jason Anzalone (43) during first quarter football, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2007 in Amherst, Mass. UMass won 24-7. (AP Photo/Lisa Poole)
Massachusetts' quarterback Liam Coen prepares to throw against Bryant in the first half of an NCAA football game in Amherst, Mass. Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008. UMass defeated Bryant 42-7. Coen threw five touchdown passes for 389 yards. (AP Photo/Nancy Palmieri)
Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Liam Coen and quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) speak prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, January 1, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Baker Mayfield (17) speaks with offensive coordinator Liam Coen during an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Liam Coen throws a pass during pregame warmups before an NFL preseason football game against the Houston Texans, Friday, Aug. 19, 2022 in Inglewood, Calif. The Texans defeated the Rams 24-20. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
This is a 2022 photo of Liam Coen of the Los Angeles Rams NFL football team. This image reflects the Los Angeles Rams active roster as of Tuesday, June 7, 2022 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Liam Coen watches from the sideline during an NFL game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. The Rams defeated the Broncos 51-14. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Liam Coen at the NFL football team's practice facility Thursday, May 26, 2022, in Thousand Oaks, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Liam Coen, left, talks to quarterback Matthew Stafford at the NFL football team's practice facility Monday, May 23, 2022, in Thousand Oaks, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Liam Coen, left, talks to quarterback Matthew Stafford at the NFL football team's practice facility Monday, May 23, 2022, in Thousand Oaks, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
From left, Miami Dolphins wide receivers coach Josh Grizzard and Los Angeles Rams assistant quarterbacks coach Liam Coen smile as they wear masks on the field before an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Doug Murray)
FILE - Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Liam Coen looks on before an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have agreed to hire Coen to be their offensive coordinator, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press, Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Lewis, File)
Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Liam Coen watches from the sideline during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023 in Inglewood, Calif. The Chargers won 31-10. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Massachusetts quarterback Liam Coen readies to throw as New Hampshire's Chris Ward (31) moves in the first half of a college football game in Amherst, Mass. Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007. UMass won, 27-7. (AP Photo/Nancy Palmieri)
Los Angeles Rams assistant quarterbacks coach Liam Coen smiles on the field before the Rams take on the Miami Dolphins during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Doug Murray)
Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Liam Coen laughs on the sideline during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023 in Inglewood, Calif. The Chargers won 31-10. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
This is a 2018 photo of Liam Coen of the Los Angeles Rams NFL football team. This image reflects the Los Angeles Rams active roster as of Thursday, April 26, 2018 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Massachusetts quarterback Liam Coen throws down field against Rhode Island during their NCAA collegefootball game in Kingston, R.I. on Saturday Nov. 1, 2008. The Rhode Island native lead UMass to a 49-0 victory. (AP Photo/Joe Giblin)
