By John Shinn
Transcript Sports Writer
With eight NFL teams looking for head coaches, it seems Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops is atop every team’s wish list.
However, the Sooner coach says he’s not looking to bolt for the NFL any time soon.
“That’s not something I’m looking to do,” Stoops said Wednesday during an interview on WWLS radio. “I love what I’m doing here. I feel our future is incredibly bright. We still have more to do here and I’m excited too much about what I’m doing.”
The team that is rumored to have the most interest in Stoops is the Kansas City Chiefs, but Stoops has been mentioned as possible candidate for the Houston Texans, too.
Detroit, Oakland, Green Bay, St. Louis, New Orleans and Minnesota also have head-coaching vacancies.
Stoops said he isn’t a candidate for anything and any reports that he’s interviewed for any jobs are false.
“You don’t have a job like I have and you go interviewing,” he said. “That’s what I don’t think people get. I’m not going to go interview for anything.
“I do know a lot of these people around the [NFL] that I am friends with and know pretty well. If I speak with them, they are private conversations and I’m not going to divulge whether I have or haven’t spoken to anybody. But I’m not going to go anywhere and interview and be one of five candidates trying to get a job. That doesn’t make sense in the position we’re in here and what our future looks like here.”
Stoops said he has been focused on recruiting and spending time with his family since OU finished an 8-4 season with a 17-14 victory over Oregon in the Holiday Bowl.
When asked if there was a chance he might want to step up to the NFL, Stoops said he couldn’t rule out anything, but he likes the situation he’s currently in.
“I’m not looking to do anything else,” he said. “But you have to admit, you don’t always know from year to year what’s in front of you or what you need to do or the changes that happen within your family.
“Hopefully everything continues as it is and people are hoping we’re still here.”
John Shinn366-3536jshinn@normantranscript.com
