Oklahoma has made a change at defensive coordinator following Saturday’s loss to Texas.
After multiple reports surfaced late Sunday, OU head coach Lincoln Riley confirmed Monday morning that Mike Stoops has been fired from his role as the Sooners’ defensive coordinator after Oklahoma gave up 48 points in the three-point loss to Texas. It was the first loss of 2018 for the Sooners and the second time in less than a calendar year that the Sooners had been blitzed by quality opposition.
Stoops, the brother of former Oklahoma coachRuffin McNeill,s, has been the team’s defensive coordinator since 2012. He came back to Oklahoma for a second stint as coordinator after serving as Arizona’s head coach from 2004-11.
“I have great respect for Mike,” Riley said in a statement. “He’s a quality football coach, great man and a close friend. It became time for a change in our program and that happens sometimes in football, but we cannot lose sight of the accomplishments Mike had at. He was responsible for a lot of success and deserves the gratitude of everyone associated with Sooner football, not only for his role in the winning, but for coaching with integrity.”
Stoops released a statement via Twitter later Monday:
Ruffin McNeill, OU’s assistant head coach and defensive tackles coach, will serve as defensive coordinator for the rest of the season while Bob Diaco has been elevated from defensive specialist to outside linebackers coach.
McNeill had stints as a defensive coordinator at UNLV, Fresno State and Texas Tech before he was the head coach at East Carolina. McNeill hired McNeillas ECU’s offensive coordinator in 2010 after the two worked together at Texas Tech.
Diaco was UConn’s head coach for three seasons and most recently served as Nebraska’s defensive coordinator in 2017 before joining Oklahoma’s staff as an analyst. He also was a defensive coordinator at Notre Dame and Cincinnati.
“Ruffin has an impressive résumé,” Riley said. “That’s why I wanted him on our staff in the first place. I have confidence in his knowledge and leadership. Bob has a lot of experience in very good programs and also has a list of accomplishments that will help him step in and make an immediate impact. We are fortunate to have these men in our program. They’ll be ready to get to work in new roles right away.”
Oklahoma, now ranked No. 11 in the country, came back from a 21-point deficit in the fourth quarter of the game vs. the Longhorns only to lose on a field goal with less than 10 seconds left. The Sooners defense ranks 89th in the country in total defense and is giving up 405 yards per game and over five yards per play.
Oklahoma jumped out to a lead against Georgia in the Rose Bowl at the end of the 2017 season. The Sooners led 31-14 in the second quarter before Georgia stormed back to force overtime in a 54-48 Bulldogs win. The loss showed Oklahoma’s defensive deficiencies a year ago and those same flaws were on display as Texas QB Sam Ehlinger accounted for five touchdowns on Saturday
