NORMAN — Oklahoma filled its linebackers coach opening on Tuesday with the hiring of former Arizona defensive coordinator Tim Kish.
“I’m very excited, first and foremost, for myself and my family to be at such a prestigious institution and football program,” said Kish. “The fact that I’ve known Bob Stoops for over 30 years and have coached with Mike Stoops the last eight years at Arizona made it very enticing for all of us to work together. I’m really looking forward to contributing to the football program and helping it continue the high standards expected at Oklahoma.”
Scout.com was the first to report the hiring on Tuesday. OU confirmed it around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday night.
His addition fills the spot that opened last week when former defensive coordinator Brent Venables left to become defensive coordinator at Clemson. Mike Stoops was also officially hired last as co-defensive coordinator along with Venables. The defensive coordinator title is now his alone.
Kish, 57, spent the last eight years at Arizona where he became familiar with the defensive system Mike Stoops will employ, serving as his linebackers coach since 2004 and adding the role of defensive coordinator the final two seasons in Tucson.
“Tim has great experience in coaching linebackers and also has experience as a defensive coordinator. He has a long track record of developing linebackers and worked alongside Mike (Stoops) for eight years at Arizona,” said Bob Stoops. “I value his experience and his understanding of our defensive scheme.”
Kish’s similar coaching ideology and his recruiting prowess were positives for Stoops.
“We’ve been together before exchanging ideas and his coaching philosophy has many similarities to what we’ve been doing at Oklahoma. I feel very confident about Tim and I feel that his arrival, along with Mike, will be a seamless transition for both our coaching staff and players as we look to build on the success we’ve already accomplished at Oklahoma,” Bob Stoops added. “Tim is also a great fit as a tireless recruiter who has a strong reputation in the nation’s southwest and west and will be a valuable asset for our program in that regard.”
Kish made Rivals.com’s Top 25 recruiter lists from 2004-06.
At Arizona, Kish was part of a coaching staff that guided the Wildcats to a school-record three consecutive bowl games in the 2008, 2009 and 2010 seasons.
Prior to his arrival in Tucson, Kish spent two seasons as the defensive coordinator at Indiana where the 2002 Hoosier defensive unit finished fourth in the Big Ten in pass defense. The stop at Indiana was one of four Big Ten Conference schools the Westerville, Ohio, native has made.
Kish was Illinois’ defensive coordinator in 2001 and was Northwestern’s defensive ends/linebackers coach from 1997-2000. He first stop in the Big Ten was as Purdue’s secondary coach from 1979-81.
Prior to joining Mike Stoops’ staff at Arizona, Kish’s longest stint was at Army, where he coached defensive ends and outside linebackers from 1984-91.
All told, Kish has 33 years of experience on the Football Bowl Subdivision level including nine years as a defensive coordinator. He has spent eight years in the Pac-12 and 14 in the Big Ten.
