The Zeitgeist List · coaching

Oklahoma: a football coaching history

Power Program I#8 of 138–

See Oklahoma’s full 91-year Zeitgeist History →
← all coaches

Program GOAT

Barry Switzer

2 Dynasty · 15 Blue-Blood seasons

Built by

Bud Wilkinson

Power Program III → Dynasty (+43.6)

The fall

Gary Gibbs

Blue Blood → Blue Blood (−14.9)

Right now

Brent Venables

the 7th-best of Oklahoma's 10 coaches so far

Stature & coaches, 1936–2026

The program’s standing over time, with every coach’s tenure beneath it — read down to see who was there for each rise and fall.

Every coach

2022–now

Brent Venablesinheritor

Brent Venables inherited a Power Program I Oklahoma and won with it.

−9.6

32–20

2017–2021

Lincoln Rileyinheritor

Lincoln Riley inherited a Power Program I Oklahoma and won with it.

Power Program I

55–10

1999–2021

Bob Stoopstransformer

Bob Stoops took Oklahoma from Power Program II to Blue Blood.

+26.9

191–48

1996–1998

John Blakeinheritor

John Blake inherited a Blue Blood Oklahoma and won with it.

−13.5

12–22

1995–1995

Howard Schnellenbergershort tenure

5–5

1989–1994

Gary Gibbssustainer

Gary Gibbs kept Oklahoma a national power for 6 seasons.

−14.9

44–23

1973–1988

Barry Switzertransformer

Barry Switzer took Oklahoma from Power Program I to Dynasty — 2 Dynasty seasons.

+16.1

157–29

1967–1972

Chuck Fairbanksinheritor

Chuck Fairbanks inherited a Blue Blood Oklahoma and won with it.

Power Program I

52–15

1966–1966

Jim MacKenzieshort tenure

6–4

1964–1965

Gomer Jonesshort tenure

9–11

1947–1963

Bud Wilkinsontransformer

Bud Wilkinson took Oklahoma from Power Program III to Dynasty — 2 Dynasty seasons.

+43.6

145–29

1946–1946

Jim Tatumshort tenure

8–3

1941–1945

Snorter Lustercaretaker

Snorter Luster held Oklahoma at Power Program III for 5 seasons.

Power Program III

27–18

1937–1940

Tom Stidhamcaretaker

Tom Stidham moved Oklahoma from National Program II to Power Program III in 4 seasons.

+10.1

27–8

1936–1936

Biff Jonesshort tenure

3–3