Bob Stoops responds to possibility of returning to coach Oklahoma full-time

With Bob Stoops returning to the Sooner sidelines as interim head coach, it begs the question: Could he stay long term? Sitting next to athletic director Joe Castiglione, Stoops provided an answer during Oklahoma’s press conference Monday.

“I’m gonna be here as long as they need me until they find their new head coach, whenever that may be,” he said.

“So it could be more than the bowl game?” the reporter followed up.

“Joe won’t take that long,” Stoops said, laughing.

With that out of the way, Castiglione and president Joe Harroz will commence their coaching search. As they seek out the 23rd Sooners football coach in history, they’ll have a long list of options.

“This job is gonna attract the very best in the coaching world and they’re already lined up and called,” Stoops said. “This is a real job. This is a great job and a great university with great leadership.”

One such candidate is Clemson defensive coordinator and associate head coach Brent Venables, who held the same position for the Sooners from 2004-11. First-year South Carolina coach Shane Beamer, who served on the Oklahoma staff from 2018-20, is another name that has been mentioned.

There’s also been some love for legendary Sooners quarterback Josh Heupel, the current coach at Tennessee. Heupel was the Heisman runner-up in 2000, the same year he led Oklahoma to an undefeated season and national championship. He developed a reputation as an offensive mastermind in three years with UCF before taking over the Volunteers.

The press conference Monday was held in the wake of news that OU coach Lincoln Riley had bolted for USC. He’ll trade the windy plains of Norman for sunnier weather in California just a day removed from his first Bedlam loss. He took with him several Sooners assistants, including defensive coordinator Alex Grinch.

Riley leaves behind a team that finished the year 10-2 and will miss the Big 12 Championship Game for the first time since it was brought back in 2017. He amassed a 55-10 overall record in five seasons, including 37-7 in conference play. He was just 1-3 in bowl games.

Although it won’t take long to find the next Sooners head coach, it apparently won’t be Bob Stoops. Still, it is encouraging to see his continued support of the program as he helps them manage this transition period with recruits.