NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — According to multiple reports, No. 11 Oklahoma is parting ways with defensive coordinator Mike Stoops after the Sooners’ struggled to stop Texas in their first loss of the season.
KREF sports radio in Norman first reported Stoops was out Sunday night, citing unidentified sources. Oklahoma athletic department spokesman Michael Houck said Sunday he could not confirm reports.
The Sooners lost 48-45 on Saturday, allowing 501 yards to the Longhorns in Dallas.
Stoops has been defensive coordinator since 2012, when his brother, former Sooners head coach Bob Stoops, hired him. It was Mike Stoops’ second stint working as an assistant for his brother. Before serving as Arizona’s head coach from 2004-11, he was co-defensive coordinator for Oklahoma and his brother from 1999-2003.
The Sooners have struggled defensively the last two seasons, finishing 80th in 2016 and 82nd in 2017 in the country in yards per play allowed.
___
More AP college football: https://apnews.com/tag/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
