Darin Hinshaw

Darin Hinshaw’s initial season as UCF’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach featured one of the most productive offenses and rushing attacks in the nation.  The Knights in 2023 ranked eighth in total offense at 487.0 yards per contest and fourth in rushing at 228.2 yads per game (third-highest figure in UCF history). Both figures ranked second in the Big 12 Conference.

UCF’s offense was directed by veteran quarterback John Rhys Plumlee who threw for 2,271 yards and 15 touchdowns and ran for 505 yards and five scores in 2023 to claim honorable mention All-Big 12 honors.

Hinshaw also directed offensive standouts Javon Baker (first-team All-Big 12 receiver), plus offensive honorable mention all-league picks Tylan Grable at tackle, Lokahi Pauole at guard and center, RJ Harvey at running back, Kobe Hudson at receiver and Plumlee. Tight end Randy Pittman received votes as offensive freshman of the year to also merit honorable mention status.

Hinshaw, a former record-setting UCF quarterback and Knight assistant coach, took over as UCF’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in January 2023 and helped the program qualify for an eighth consecutive postseason appearance.

A native of Punta Gorda, Florida, Hinshaw has served as an offensive coordinator in five different conferences during his 24-year coaching tenure. His offenses have set numerous school records, helped win conference championships, earned 10-win seasons and garnered multiple all-conference and All-America honors. Hinshaw’s offensive units have finished among the nation’s top 10 in passing, rushing and total offense—including both total offense and rushing in 2023. 

Hinshaw returned to UCF after spending the 2022 season at UAB as offensive coordinator, where the Blazers set the program record for total yards (5,697), rushing yards (3,063), yards per game (438.2) and rushing yards per game (235.6). Under his direction, UAB running back DeWayne McBride turned in the most decorated season in school history, finishing the 2022 regular season as the nation’s leading rusher with 1,713 yards. McBride earned Walter Camp second-team All-America honors, as well as being named the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year and a first-team Conference USA selection.

In 2021 as an analyst with the Knights, he helped UCF win six of its final seven games to compile an overall 9-4 mark capped by a 29-17 Gasparilla Bowl triumph over Florida and a perfect 7-0 home record.

Hinshaw spent five years on Mark Stoops' coaching staff at Kentucky from 2016-20 as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. The Wildcats' offense generated 2,000 rushing yards and 2,000 passing yards three times (2016, 2017 and 2018) during Hinshaw's tenure--the first time in school history Kentucky accomplished that in three straight seasons.

Hinshaw helped wide receiver Lynn Bowden Jr. to play quarterback--a position he had not played since high school. Bowden excelled under Hinshaw's guidance and earned first-team All-America and All-Southeastern Conference honors as an all-purpose player. He also won the Paul Hornung Award as the nation's most versatile athlete.

In 2018, Hinshaw's offense led Kentucky to its first 10-win season since 1977 and its 5-3 record in the SEC was the first winning record in conference play since that same year. Additionally, the Wildcats finished with the highest final ranking (No. 11) since 1977.

Prior to his time at Kentucky, Hinshaw served on the Cincinnati coaching staff from 2013-15 as the passing game coordinator. In those three seasons under head coach Tommy Tuberville, Hinshaw helped guide the Bearcats to a bowl game each year, with Cincinnati collecting 25 combined wins. In 2013, the Bearcats led the American Athletic Conference in total offense (472.1) and rushing offense (168.3). Those marks were surpassed in 2015—as Cincinnati amassed 537.8 yards per game. The Bearcats ranked sixth in the nation in passing offense (359.9) and total offense in 2015.

The 2014 Cincinnati squad won a share of the AAC championship along with UCF and Memphis each with 7-1 records against league opponents.

Hinshaw coached three seasons at Tennessee (2010-12), working as the recruiting coordinator in 2012, with Rivals.com ranking him as one of the top 10 recruiters in college football. He helped direct the 2012 Tennessee offense to 5,711 yards, second most in school history. His star wide receiver, Cordarrelle Patterson, a first-team All-SEC selection, set Tennessee's single-season record with 1,858 all-purpose yards.

From 2007-09, Hinshaw spent three seasons at Memphis as the wide receivers coach. He joined the Tigers' staff after serving one season as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Georgia Southern in 2006.

He worked at Middle Tennessee State for five seasons (2001-05), where he was the running backs coach his first two seasons before being elevated to co-offensive coordinator in February 2003.

Hinshaw began his coaching career at his alma mater, UCF, where head coach Mike Kruczek hired him as a graduate assistant in 1999 and named him quarterbacks coach in 2000.

As a player, Hinshaw set numerous school records for the Knights, finishing as the career leader in every major passing category, including yards (9,000 on 614 of 1,112 throwing), passing TDs (82) and overall TDs responsible for (93). He was a four-year (1991-94) starter at quarterback, throwing for a then UCF record 437 yards as a junior versus Valdosta State in 1993 and later that season throwing six TD passes in a game against Liberty.

During his time under center, UCF had a combined 28-16 record, including a 9-3 mark in 1993 that resulted in a berth in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs. Hinshaw was named to UCF's 25th Anniversary Team in 2004.
Hinshaw also played for the UCF basketball team in 1993-94, helping the Knights to the NCAA Championship, the Atlantic Sun Tournament title and a 21-9 record that year.

Following his playing days at UCF, Hinshaw began a career in pro football. After a brief stint with the Cleveland Browns, he spent two years with the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League.

Hinshaw earned his bachelor's degree in finance from UCF in 1993 and added a master's in business administration (MBA) from UCF in 1996. He is father to four children--daughters Sydney, Hayley and Carley and son Darin Jr.