When you think of the University of Oklahoma football program one name synonymous. Bob Stoops. He has been with the Sooners football program for 18 years. He announced, on Wednesday, that he is retiring from his position as head coach.
“After 18 years at the University of Oklahoma, I’ve decided to step down as the head football coach. I understand there has been some speculation about my health. My health was not the deciding factor in this decision and I’ve had no incidents that would prevent me from coaching,” Stoops said in a school release.
Bob Stops took over the University of Oklahoma Sooners football program in 1999. He has been a staple since. In his first season as head coach, he guided the Sooners to seven wins and their first bowl game since 1994. He has compiled a career record of 190 wins against 48 losses. He was an even nine wins and nine losses in bowl games.
Stoops guided the Sooners to his only National Championship in 2000. It came with a 13-2 victory over the Florida State Seminoles in the Orange Bowl. This would also be the only time that the Sooners would go undefeated.
Stoops Oklahoma teams have finished ranked in Top 10 nine times. Six of those times, they finished in the top five.
Bob Stoops has coached the likes of RB Adrian Peterson, QB Sam Bradford, QB Landry Jones, RB Joe Mixon, WR Sterling Shepard, and many others in his tenure at OU.
He steps away from the game with astounding accomplishments.
1 – National Championship
10 – Big 12 Championships
2 – Walter Camp Coach of the Year Awards (2000, 2003)
1 – Paul “Bear” Bryant Award (2000)
1 – Home Depot Coach of the Year Award (2000)
1 – AP Coach of the Year Award (2000)
6 – Big 12 Coach of the Year Awards (2000, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2015-2016)
1 – Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award (2003)
1 – Disney’s Wide World of Sports Spirit Award (2014)
He is also the only head coach in the modern BCS era to win the Rose, Orange, Sugar and Fiesta Bowls.
Bob Stoops hands the reigns over to Offensive Coordinator Lincoln Riley. Riley has been with the program for 3-years and recently signed a 3-year contract extension in May. He takes over a program filled with rich tradition and excellence.
Added Riley: “I’m sincerely honored to be given this opportunity to be the head football coach at the University of Oklahoma. I want to thank Coach Stoops for bringing me here two years ago and making me part of the Sooner family. He is one of the greatest coaches in the history of the game, at any level. I am absolutely thankful for our friendship and for the mentorship, he has provided. Coaching at Oklahoma is a dream come true for me and my family.”