Heupel back in Norman

• Stoops hires a familiar face as new QBs coach

By John Shinn

Transcript Sports Writer

It didn’t take long for Oklahoma to move on after Chuck Long’s departure. Just five days after Long departed for the head-coaching position at San Diego State, OU coach Bob Stoops filled his staff with a very familiar face.

Josh Heupel, who quarterbacked the Sooners to the 2000 national championship, was named the quarterbacks coach Thursday.

“I’m extremely excited about being back here and being part of this football program and university,” Heupel said Thursday. “It’s a great opportunity for me to come back. It’s an opportunity for me to coach quarterbacks. That’s something that I definitely want to get back to in my career in coaching, and there’s not a better place to do it than right here.”

Heupel spent the 2003 and 2004 seasons as an offensive graduate assistant at OU. This year, he joined Mike Stoops’ staff at Arizona as the tight ends coach. But the chance to return to his alma mater and coach quarterbacks was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.

“Even when I played here, this was a great place to be. I truly enjoy it,” Heupel said. “It’s a home of mine. A lot of my family lives here, so that’s definitely a major part of why I came back.

“But the opportunity to coach quarterbacks and to do it at the place that you played ... just makes it an easy decision.”

Stoops promoted Kevin Wilson from offensive line coach to offensive coordinator the day after Long left.

One source of concern was how freshman quarterback Rhett Bomar would react to not having a position coach. Stoops said Wilson, running backs coach Cale Gundy and receivers coach Darrell Wyatt would all help out in that regard.

Heupel’s hiring helps alleviate any concerns, though.

“I was with him my freshman year when I redshirted, so I wasn't around him a lot,” Bomar said. “But I was around him on the sidelines when he was talking to Jason (White) during the games. I was around him enough to learn and to realize that he knows what he’s talking about.”

Heupel certainly has excellent credentials.

He was named Associated Press Player of the Year, Walter Camp Player of the Year, The Sporting News Player of the Year, CBS Sports Player of the Year, Big 12 Player of the Year and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2000. That season, he guided OU to a school-record 13 wins and its seventh national championship.

He holds or shares 13 school records despite the fact that he played just two seasons at OU. He still holds career marks for completions (654), completion percentage (.638) and attempts (1,025). His 7,456 career passing yards are second only to White.

Stoops was quick to point out Heupel’s familiarity with the Sooner offense wasn’t the biggest reason he wanted to bring him back. He said Heupel has more intangibles.

“This isn’t just about fit. Josh brings a lot,” Stoops said. “I think he’s matured beyond his years coaching-wise. Being in our offices, I’ve seen him contribute even in a GA role, working with coach Wilson, his leadership on the field.

“Josh is a good football coach.”

Stoops said Heupel would join the Sooners for practice immediately and coach in the Holiday Bowl against No. 6 Oregon on Dec. 29.

The Sooners leave for San Diego today.

There was discussion that Long would help OU during the practices leading up to the game, but Stoops said that will change with Heupel aboard.

“Chuck will be in an advisor’s role,” Stoops said.

John Shinn366-3536jshinn@normantranscript.com