Report: OU to hire Doug Deakin as special teams analyst
OU is expected to hire former San Diego State special teams coordinator Doug Deakin as a special teams analyst, according to a report by 247Sports.
The Sooners have been in the market for a new special teams analyst after Jay Nunez left for Alabama in February. And OU landed an experienced one in Deakin. He spent the past 17 seasons with San Diego State, with the previous six being the special teams coordinator. Under his direction, the Aztecs ranked in the top 10 in ESPN’s FBS special teams efficiency each of the last three years.
Oklahoma desperately needs help on special teams heading into the SEC in 2024.
Last season, OU finished 94th in SP+ rankings on special teams. The Sooners ranked 39th in 2022. Their punt team was one of the worst in the country, ranking 95th in return average and 44th in net punting. Punt returner Gavin Freeman really struggled, returning 18 punts for only 122 yards. And one of those returns was an 82-yard touchdown in the season opener. They also struggled on field goals, with Zach Schmit going 15-of-21 during the season.
Deakin will hopefully help with those struggles, along with new co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Zac Alley. He coached special teams before at Boise State in 2020. And he was named FootballScoop’s Special Teams Coordinator of the Year that season. He will likely have a hand in coaching special teams for the Sooners moving forward.
But now with Deakin on staff, OU has its guy to lead the charge on special teams.
