OU head coach Porter Moser shuts down DePaul rumors

OU head coach Porter Moser emphatically denied any interest in the DePaul head coaching spot, saying he’s excited about what’s happening at OU in year No. 3 when SoonerScoop asked Monday afternoon.

Moser said last year he cannot control the rumor mill. It has been running rampant again with reported interest for Moser with DePaul after that job became open last month.

“Haven’t talked to anybody,” Moser said. “Not even thinking about anything. Absolutely not even engaging into anything like that, 100 percent. So excited about where we are at with the team. This is everything we’ve tried to build for is being in this position. Same comment as last year. All rumor mill fodder. Nothing, nothing true.”

This was the same type of attitude and answer from Moser last February when the Notre Dame job was the one people had circled for Moser.

The Chicago connection is just something so many simply connect the dots with Moser and having him go back home.

Year No. 2 at OU was a rough one, even Moser has been able to admit that. But this season has been different. A different approach in the transfer portal has led to much better results.

The Sooners are 18-6 overall and 6-5 in the Big 12. With seven games left, that is already more conference wins than last season’s five at 5-13.

OU has been ranked for most of the season and came back into the rankings at No. 25 on Monday afternoon.

Moser has worked tirelessly to drive student engagement. He has done all he can to fill up the Lloyd Noble Center, and the crowds have been pretty solid throughout this season.

But there are questions about a potential new arena. There are questions about whether the OU basketball interest can ever truly be enough to keep Moser and family content in Norman.

DePaul has struggled, but it is in the Big East. And if Moser went back home to Chicago, it’s hard to bet against him turning the Blue Demons around.

Same as last year with the Irish. A Catholic boy coming back to that school would have been a heck of a storyline.

Moser referenced last year’s comment. Here is what Moser said last year when SoonerScoop asked him ND interest.

‘Oklahoma is my home’

“I’ve not pursued it, nor do I have any interest. Oklahoma is my home,” Moser said. The Sooners are my home.

“Of course, everywhere you go, you’re going to have people talking. I know that. There is nothing that can be said to me that is not stopping me from my vision and my passion of where I want to go and how I want to look at building this program and winning here. There is nobody who wants to win more than my staff and I. This place – I believe the people here are so special.

“I can’t control what is said about rumors about jobs. But I can say, unequivocally, that’s a false report saying I pursued it. Unequivocally. And nor do I want to. I’m home. I’m home. I left home to be at home. Does anybody want to win and wish the results were faster? Of course, I do. But they’re going to come. They’re going to come.”

Those wins have come in year No. 3. Now it’s about closing out the season in style and earning that first berth into the NCAA Tournament for the Sooners under Moser.

OU plays at No. 12 Baylor on Tuesday night and hosts No. 6 Kansas on Saturday afternoon.