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Report: Bob Stoops to retire as Oklahoma head coach

By Rob Wolkenbrod

Jan 21, 2017; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head football coach Bob Stoops watches college basketball action between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Oklahoma Sooners during the first half at Lloyd Noble Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 21, 2017; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head football coach Bob Stoops watches college basketball action between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Oklahoma Sooners during the first half at Lloyd Noble Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops will reportedly retire, with his replacement already lined up.

Since 1999, the Oklahoma Football head coach has been Bob Stoops. He’s never had a losing season with the Sooners, winning at least seven games since taking over. The program is coming off a 11-2 season, including winning the Sugar Bowl.

However, the era of Stoops is about to abruptly end. According to Berry Tramel of NewsOK.com, the 56-year-old will announce his retirement on Wednesday to the team. It will end his 18-year tenure in Norman, OK. In the report, Tramel’s source noted that Stoops got to do this “in his way.”

As for a replacement, it will come from within, as offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley will take over for Stoops. Riley has been with Oklahoma for the past two seasons.

The timing of Stoops’ retirement is interesting. It comes after spring practice, going into the summer and during the school’s recruiting. Something like this would normally come immediately after the college football season ends or just before it’s about to conclude. Everyone will have to wait and see if there’s potentially a reasoning behind this, given the unusual timing.

Through his time with Oklahoma, Stoops had a 190-48 record, with a 121-29 record in the Big 12 Conference. He won a title with the program in 2000, winning the Orange Bowl, but hasn’t made the National Championship Game since. However, his teams have been part of the Rose Bowl, Fiesta Bowl and Cotton Bowl, which are three marquee postseason games,

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There will potentially be more fallout from Stoops leaving his post at Oklahoma. It’s him leaving a spot that he’s manned for nearly two decades, mostly controlling the Big 12 during this time. Now, it’s the Riley era for the Sooners, so let’s see where he’ll take this program in the 2017 college football season.

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