OU Sports
Time was right for Long
Chuck Long has been through a whirlwind over the last two days. But a day after being named head coach at San Diego State, he finally had time to reflect.
“I just want to say how much we will miss Oklahoma,” he said Sunday. “I want to thank Bob Stoops and the staff for making it a great place to work. We had a wonderful six years there. It was a great run and something I will never forget.”
Long spent six seasons as an assistant coach at OU, the last four as offensive coordinator. The Sooners’ put up record-setting numbers and won two Big 12 titles and played in two national championship games while he ran the offense.
During that time he was courted several times for head-coaching positions. So, what did San Diego State offer that other jobs didn’t?
“They either weren’t a good fit for us at the time or we just felt like we had some more work to do at Oklahoma,” Long said. “When this opened up and they started to court me, we saw this was an opportunity we just couldn’t pass up.
“I believe I’m ready to be a head coach. I’ve learned a lot from watching Bob over the last six years. I studied that and believe this is the time and this is the opportunity.”
However, what remains to be seen is how much Long will be involved in OU’s preparation for its Dec. 29 game against No. 6 Oregon in the Holiday Bowl.
OU coach Bob Stoops said Long won’t be involved in game-planning, but would still like Long to offer his input.
“I am going to talk to Chuck and see what is possible,” Stoops said. “… If he’s able to continue, that would be a positive. We would welcome that.”
Kevin Wilson, who was named OU’s new offensive coordinator Saturday, would like any help Long can provide.
“If Chuck could be there, that would be great,” Wilson said. “Hopefully he can help us. I hope he would want to do that and could.”
OU will leave for San Diego Friday and will practice at the Aztecs’ practice facility.
Long will be there. But his biggest focus will be on assembling a coaching staff. He said he start by looking at coaches he’d worked with in the past.
“We’ll wait until the bowl games are over and see where it goes from there,” he said. “My goal is to hire my staff by January 18.”
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