Heupel the winner?
On KREF radio yesterday, Toby Rowland asked former OU quarterback Paul Thompson who on the Sooner staff would be the best head coach. Thompson said Josh Heupel.
Interesting answer. Heupel, by seniority, is on the bottom of the OU pecking order. By title, he is far down. But expect Heupel to quickly move up. Bob Stoops’ loss of Kevin Sumlin, to Houston U., opens a spot for advancement. Expect Heupel, OU’s quarterback coach, to move up to co-offensive coordinator.
I thought if Kevin Wilson got a head-coaching job this year, Heupel would be the choice, even above Sumlin, to be OU’s next offensive coordinator. Stoops hired Mike Leach as his offensive coordinator in 1998 and has subsequently had to hire three more o-coordinators. All came from in-house.
Mark Mangino had been offensive line coach under Leach and remained so even after becoming offensive coordinator. When Mangino left, Chuck Long became the coordinator, after serving as quarterback coach under Mangino for two years. When Long left at the end of 2005, Wilson moved up to coordinator after three years as offensive line coach.
Stoops promotes from within. That leads to continuity and good morale on the staff. Heupel is a rising star in the coaching ranks. You could tell when Heupel played that he had the mind of a coach. He will be OU’s next offensive coordinator.
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