When Bush Hamdan arrived at Kentucky as offensive coordinator, following Liam Coen's brief second one-year run, he promised a fast, aggressive, and explosive offense. Fans were eager to buy in, as they wanted to continue the deviation from pre-Covid Stoops offenses. However, the results on the field have left much to be desired, with Kentucky's offense underwhelming in nearly every key metric and reverting back to the tired, uninspired Rich Scangarello-style offense Stoops is known for.
Bush Hamdan seems to completely lack an understanding of how to put his guys in position to succeed and also stay away from the team’s deficiencies. Never creates any rhythm, just random play calling
— Adam Mercer (@Adam_Mercer17) November 23, 2024
Hamdan’s introductory press conference brimmed with ambition and moxy:
- “This offense, we’re going to be on the attack. That’s all we’ve ever known.”
- “It’s a pro-style foundation… with creativity and variance to create explosive plays.”
- “We’re going to play fast.”
Unfortunately, Kentucky’s offense has fallen far short of those promises.
Checking in on former Boise State OC Bush Hamdan and... https://t.co/Gp1qyALfW4 pic.twitter.com/Flfp8Vmb1U
— Rafter17-KevinHiatt (@kevin_hiatt) November 24, 2024
The Reality of Hamdan’s Offense
- Points Per Game: 21.9 (Ranked 92nd nationally)
- Plays Per Game: 64 (101st out of 134, slower than the much-maligned Scangarello offense)
- Red Zone Scoring Percentage: 76.92% (113th nationally)
- Passing Game: Despite getting a coveted former 5-star recruit at QB, Kentucky has averaged just 185.9 passing yards per game, far below Hamdan’s former Boise State unit (221.3 yards/game).
- Rushing Efficiency: A paltry 3.9 yards per carry, with only 11 rushing touchdowns on the year.
Kentucky’s offensive woes extend beyond raw numbers, too. Play-calling has been uninspired, failing to effectively utilize weapons like Barion Brown and Dane Key. The Wildcats rank near the bottom in explosive plays, making Hamdan’s early promises ring hollow. They had five drives enter Texas territory under Hamdan, including one inside the five, and came away with zilch.
Bush Hamdan up in the booth pic.twitter.com/HG6jj6icdF
— Branden Hart (@BrandenHart1) November 23, 2024
Hamdan’s Raise: A Hard Pill to Swallow
Mark Stoops has confirmed Hamdan will return in 2024, complete with a $100,000 raise, bringing his salary to $1.35 million—just $150,000 shy of the top-five coordinator pay bracket. But do Hamdan’s results warrant that investment?
The answer feels clear to fans who watched this offense sputter week after week. Speculation is mounting that Stoops is keeping Hamdan around as a sacrificial lamb for next season, a move to shift blame when the pressure inevitably rises if he flops again next year.
Mark Stoops says Bush Hamdan will return in 2025. pic.twitter.com/j3zSA0tUCR
— Adam Luckett (@AdamLuckettKSR) November 24, 2024
Looking Ahead
With a talented quarterback room and skilled playmakers, Kentucky has the tools for a functional offense. However, without significant adjustments, those players may end up bolting in the transfer portal. One thing is for sure: Hamdan’s tenure could further erode fan trust if it goes even remotely like this year again.
Bush Hamdan is good for one great drive a game. The rest is a pile of crap.
— Wildcat Blue Nation (@WildcatBlueNatn) November 23, 2024
For now, fans are left asking: Can Stoops and Hamdan deliver, or are we just enduring another season of broken promises and bad football?