OSU hires Todd Monken as offensive coordinator

STILLWATER — During his search for Oklahoma State’s new offensive coordinator, head coach Mike Gundy said the Cowboys’ offense didn’t need dramatic changes, just small improvements.

Gundy is confident Todd Monken can make those adjustments.

OSU hired Monken as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach on Wednesday.

Monken replaces Dana Holgorsen, who left to join the West Virginia staff. Monken was on the Cowboys’ coaching staff alongside Gundy under then-head coach Les Miles from 2002-04.

Monken has returned to the Cowboys after serving as an assistant with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars.

“Todd is a really good fit for what we need,” Gundy said in a release. “He’s an experienced, intelligent coach who will be able to come in and help us pick up where we left off.”

And that means high expectations.

Under Holgorsen, the Cowboys’ offense was among the nation’s best in 2010. They finished third nationally in total offense at 520.23 yards per game and third nationally in scoring at 44.23 points per game.

Holgorsen is gone, but receiver Justin Blackmon, the 2010 Biletnikoff Award winner, and All-Big 12 quarterback Brandon Weeden bypassed the NFL Draft to return for the 2011 season.

Monken’s hire might be good news for Blackmon and the rest of the receiving corps.

The Cowboys’ newest assistant has a proven track record for developing elite receivers. While Monken was at OSU under Miles, Rashaun Woods earned All-American honors twice before becoming an NFL first-round pick. As an LSU assistant, Monken coached NFL first-round picks Dwayne Bowe and Craig “Buster” Davis.

A former quarterback at Knox College (Ill.

Page 1 of 2

1 2 Next