OSU football: Cowboys to hire former assistant Johnny Barr

STILLWATER -- It appears Johnny Barr will be returning to Oklahoma State for a third time, sources said Thursday.

Barr, who played at Oklahoma, was a Cowboys assistant under Pat Jones when current OSU coach Mike Gundy was the team's quarterback, then he returned to join Bob Simmons' staff in 1995-96.

It is expected that Barr will fill the recruiting coordinator position that came open earlier this week when Gundy promoted Robert Matthews to an on-field position.

A coaching veteran of more than three decades, Barr most recently worked as the director of on-campus recruiting for Texas A&M under former coach Dennis Franchione through the 2007 season.

He has also coached at OU, Texas Tech, Kansas and Arizona State, among other places.

An official announcement is expected from OSU later today announcing the additions of Barr and new running backs coach Robert Gillespie, as well as the promotion of Matthews.

OSU offensive lineman Russell Okung has until midnight tonight to announce whether or not he will return to OSU for his senior season or declare for the NFL Draft. It has been anticipated by those around the program that Okung will return, though no official announcement has been made.