Stature and 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.
Run↔pass identity, by season
Every coach
Big movers show how many stature points they built or lost against what they inherited; steadier tenures show the tier they reached instead. A small blue arrow marks a real System Shift at that changeover — how hard the offense’s run/pass identity flipped.
7th-best Oklahoma tenure of 10 by the numbers.
Followed Lincoln Riley (2017–2021).
| Season | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||||
| Record | 6-7 | 10-3 | 6-7 | 10-3 | 4-4 | |
| Postseason | L bowl | L bowl | L bowl | CFP loss | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #8 | #4 | #8 | #17 | #15 | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||||
| Pass rate | 41.2 | 46.5 | 41.9 | 49.9 | 48.3 | |
| Coordinators | ||||||
| OC | Jeff Lebby | Jeff Lebby | Joe Jon Finley / Kevin Johns / Seth Littrell | Ben Arbuckle | Ben Arbuckle | |
| DC | Ted Roof / Todd Bates / Jay Valai | Ted Roof / Todd Bates / Jay Valai | Todd Bates / Zac Alley / Jay Valai | Todd Bates / Jay Valai | Todd Bates | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||||
| Offense | 64 | 92 | 29 | 14 | 12 | |
| Defense | 14 | 88 | 90 | 97 | 82 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||||
| 1st-down pass% | 45.6 | 49.4 | 39.1 | 39.9 | 38.8 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 38.9 | 41.4 | 36.5 | 29.8 | 47.1 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 43.6 | 39.4 | 30.6 | 17.9 | 16.0 | |
Underperforms his recruiting talent on offense and performs about as expected for his recruiting talent on defense.
A typical amount of portal roster-building.
Brings in bigger-than-position-typical players than most.
Recruits older, more experienced transfers than most.
17 NFL Draft picks: Anton Harrison (2023), Marvin Mims (2023), Wanya Morris (2023), Eric Gray (2023), Brayden Willis (2023), Tyler Guyton (2024), Walter Rouse (2024), Jonah Laulu (2024) + 9 more
3 player-seasons honored (All-America / national award): Billy Bowman Jr. (2023), Danny Stutsman (2024), Tate Sandell (2025)
AI Narratives — “Oklahoma's Offseason Challenges” and 3 more on the team page.
6th-best Oklahoma tenure of 10 by the numbers.
Followed Bob Stoops (1999–2016) · succeeded by Brent Venables (2022–now).
| Season | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||||
| Record | 12-2 | 12-2 | 12-2 | 9-2 | 10-2 | |
| Postseason | CFP loss | CFP loss | CFP loss | W bowl | W bowl | |
| Recruiting rank | #8 | #9 | #6 | #11 | #11 | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||||
| Pass rate | 44.2 | 43.2 | 40.3 | 46.4 | 47.4 | |
| Coordinators | ||||||
| OC | Bill Bedenbaugh / Cale Gundy | Bill Bedenbaugh / Cale Gundy | Bill Bedenbaugh / Cale Gundy | Bill Bedenbaugh / Cale Gundy | Bill Bedenbaugh / Cale Gundy | |
| DC | Mike Stoops | Mike Stoops | Alex Grinch | Alex Grinch | Alex Grinch | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||||
| Offense | 100 | 100 | 97 | 95 | 97 | |
| Defense | 49 | 4 | 44 | 89 | 36 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||||
| 1st-down pass% | 41.5 | 37.4 | 34.9 | 37.5 | 42.6 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 43.2 | 35.7 | 37.4 | 40.7 | 44.1 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 40.5 | 43.8 | 28.6 | 19.4 | 29.7 | |
Outperforms his recruiting talent on offense and underperforms his recruiting talent on defense.
A typical amount of portal roster-building.
Brings in smaller-than-position-typical players than most.
Recruits older, more experienced transfers than most.
28 NFL Draft picks: Baker Mayfield (2018), Orlando Brown (2018), Mark Andrews (2018), Obo Okoronkwo (2018), Kyler Murray (2019), Marquise Brown (2019), Cody Ford (2019), Bobby Evans (2019) + 20 more
2 player-seasons honored (All-America / national award): Baker Mayfield (2017), Kyler Murray (2018)
3rd-best Oklahoma tenure of 10 by the numbers.
Followed John Blake (1996–1998) · succeeded by Lincoln Riley (2017–2021).
| Season | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2021 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Record | 7-5 | 13-0 | 11-2 | 12-2 | 12-2 | 12-1 | 8-4 | 11-3 | 11-3 | 12-2 | 8-5 | 12-2 | 10-3 | 10-3 | 11-2 | 8-5 | 11-2 | 11-2 | 1-0 | |
| Postseason | L bowl | W bowl | W bowl | W bowl | L bowl | L bowl | W bowl | L bowl | L bowl | Title game L | W bowl | W bowl | W bowl | L bowl | W bowl | L bowl | CFP loss | W bowl | W bowl | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | — | — | — | #8 | #3 | #9 | #18 | #6 | #9 | #5 | #13 | #12 | #16 | #14 | #15 | #19 | — | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Pass rate | — | — | — | — | — | 41.8 | 39.0 | 37.9 | 41.2 | 46.7 | 51.7 | 52.3 | 55.4 | 56.8 | 40.7 | 40.9 | 43.3 | 40.1 | — | |
| Coordinators | ||||||||||||||||||||
| OC | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Jay Norvell / Josh Heupel | Lincoln Riley | Lincoln Riley | — | |
| DC | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Mike Stoops | Mike Stoops | Mike Stoops | — | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Offense | — | — | — | — | — | 91 | 55 | 63 | 89 | 95 | 33 | 65 | 66 | 90 | 53 | 60 | 82 | 99 | — | |
| Defense | — | — | — | — | — | 91 | 95 | 94 | 73 | 43 | 97 | 94 | 76 | 21 | 56 | 58 | 82 | 43 | — | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | — | — | — | — | 34.9 | 32.6 | 31.6 | 33.6 | 41.2 | 47.1 | 54.0 | 54.0 | 53.3 | 32.8 | 36.6 | 40.0 | 32.4 | — | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | — | — | — | 35.4 | 26.2 | 32.5 | 35.5 | 37.9 | 46.4 | 49.7 | 45.9 | 45.9 | 35.5 | 26.9 | 43.4 | 32.5 | — | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | — | — | — | 50.0 | 32.6 | 19.4 | 47.6 | 46.4 | 35.7 | 39.2 | 18.2 | 20.0 | 21.4 | 30.0 | 35.0 | 21.7 | — | |
Outperforms his recruiting talent on offense and performs about as expected for his recruiting talent on defense.
83 NFL Draft picks: Stockar McDougle (2000), William Bartee (2000), Torrance Marshall (2001), Josh Heupel (2001), Roy Williams (2002), Rocky Calmus (2002), Andre Woolfolk (2003), Quentin Griffin (2003) + 75 more
1 player-season honored (All-America / national award): Ty Darlington (2015)
8th-best Oklahoma tenure of 10 by the numbers.
Followed Howard Schnellenberger (1995) · succeeded by Bob Stoops (1999–2016).
9 NFL Draft picks: Barron Tanner (1997), Rod Manuel (1997), Stephen Alexander (1998), Martin Chase (1998), Travian Smith (1998), Sammy Williams (1998), Jermaine Fazande (1999), De'Mond Parker (1999) + 1 more
4th-best Oklahoma tenure of 10 by the numbers.
Followed Barry Switzer (1973–1988) · succeeded by Howard Schnellenberger (1995).
| Season | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||
| Record | 7-4 | 8-3 | 9-3 | 5-4-2 | 9-3 | 6-6 | |
| Postseason | — | — | W bowl | — | W bowl | L bowl | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||
| Pass rate | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||
| Offense | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Defense | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
13 NFL Draft picks: Kevin Thompson (1990), Adrian Cooper (1991), James Goode (1991), Frank Blevins (1991), Joe Bowden (1992), Brian Brauninger (1992), Mike Gaddis (1992), Stacey Dillard (1992) + 5 more
1st-best Oklahoma tenure of 10 by the numbers.
Followed Chuck Fairbanks (1967–1972) · succeeded by Gary Gibbs (1989–1994).
| Season | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||||||||||||
| Record | 10-0-1 | 11-0 | 11-1 | 9-2-1 | 10-2 | 11-1 | 11-1 | 10-2 | 7-4-1 | 8-4 | 8-4 | 9-2-1 | 11-1 | 11-1 | 11-1 | 9-3 | |
| Postseason | — | — | W bowl | W bowl | L bowl | W bowl | W bowl | W bowl | W bowl | L bowl | — | L bowl | W bowl | W bowl | L bowl | L bowl | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||||||||||||
| Pass rate | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||||||||||||
| Offense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Defense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||||||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
61 NFL Draft picks: Durwood Keeton (1974), Gary Baccus (1974), Clyde Powers (1974), Rod Shoate (1975), Tony Peters (1975), Randy Hughes (1975), Kyle Davis (1975), John Carroll (1975) + 53 more
5th-best Oklahoma tenure of 10 by the numbers.
Followed Jim MacKenzie (1966) · succeeded by Barry Switzer (1973–1988).
| Season | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||
| Record | 10-1 | 7-4 | 6-4 | 7-4-1 | 11-1 | 11-1 | |
| Postseason | — | — | — | L bowl | W bowl | W bowl | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||
| Pass rate | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||
| Offense | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Defense | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
14 NFL Draft picks: Eddie Hinton (1969), Steve Zabel (1970), Jim Files (1970), Steve Owens (1970), Ken Mendenhall (1970), John Watson (1971), Jack Mildren (1972), Derland Moore (1973) + 6 more
2nd-best Oklahoma tenure of 10 by the numbers.
Followed Jim Tatum (1946) · succeeded by Gomer Jones (1964–1965).
9th-best Oklahoma tenure of 10 by the numbers.
Followed Tom Stidham (1937–1940) · succeeded by Jim Tatum (1946).
10th-best Oklahoma tenure of 10 by the numbers.
Followed Biff Jones (1936) · succeeded by Snorter Luster (1941–1945).