NORMAN —
ESPN reported on Wednesday afternoon that former Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops has agreed to return to the Sooner coaching staff.
OU officials would neither confirm or deny the report, but said no announcement was planned for Wednesday.
One reason for a delay is OU technically doesn’t have an opening on the staff. There have been wide-spread reports that current defensive backs coach Willie Martinez is looking for another job. Martinez, who joined the staff in 2010, has been linked to coordinator openings at Kansas and Illinois and assistant jobs at Tennessee and Michigan State.
Sooner coach Bob Stoops has peppered with questions about his younger brother returning to the OU sidelines since Mike Stoops was fired midway through this season after seven and a half years as Arizona’s coach.
The Sooner coach always deflected those questions by saying his staff was full. An exit by Martinez would obviously create an opening.
Bob Stoops said after OU’s 31-14 victory over Iowa in the Insight Bowl, he was open to his brother back to the staff.
“In the right circumstances. You never know, but he has a lot of good opportunities,” he said.
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Former Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops was on the Sooner sideline.
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Mike Stoops may return to the OU coaching staff.
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January 11, 2012
