wow. http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/19571249/bob-stoops-steps-coach-oklahoma-sooners
Unbelievable. Bruce Feldman reporting that Stoops and Castiglione have been grooming Riley for a year now but the timing seems really weird. A top 10 team going into the season, Heisman candidate in Mayfield returning, kids off for summer break, etc...
"Retirement" (Is this like Urban's fake heart attack? Fake retirement?) Not due to health Wants to go live life. Odd timing for sure.
WWLS Radio reported that Stoops said he is not retiring because of his health and will meet with the team at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Maybe they wanted to wait to announce it until after recruiting and spring practice. Lincoln Riley seems like a good replacement. I could see him getting the job even if Swoops retired during the coaching carousel period in college football. I'm guessing they promote a position coach to OC but we'll see. It'll be nice as a Texas fan to re-start the UT vs OU coach count (10-6 under Stoops).
I wonder what Bob Stoops is going to do with those two Gold Coast homes he has bought in Chicago..... he just bought the second one a month ago.
Timing makes sense given Stoops' own dad passed away I think at 55 literally from a heart attack while coaching a HS football game, so Stoops always knew he was calling it quits around then, and then they have this 33 year old successor they want to be there for another 2 decades, and they've made the move when there's likely to be the least disruption to recruiting classes
To be fair, outside of the time of year, the others (top 10 team, Heisman contender) are pretty much true going into every year for them. You don't really want to leave in the year you suck, as that's unfair to the new coach.