Image courtesy of NewsOK

By John Sarianides

Raise your hand if you were caught off guard by the news yesterday that Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops was retiring after 18 years at the helm in Norman? I was. The news that Stoops is stepping down sent shock waves throughout the world of college football. It completely came out of left field.

It was no secret that there was pressure on Stoops to get the program back to the college football playoff but no one thought that there was so much pressure on him that he had to win or he was out. There were reports that Stoops was dealing with some health issues but Stoops quickly shot those rumors down yesterday at the press conference announcing his retirement.

33 year old offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley will take over as the permanent head coach. Riley has been been viewed as the eventual successor to Stoops in Norman but no one saw him taking over this quickly. He is one of the best offensive minds in all of college football and despite his experience and success, Riley is still young. He will be the youngest head coach in college football next season.

The one thing Riley does have going for him is that the coaching staff will stay intact. That should make his transition to the top job easier. Riley is also inheriting a talented roster and quarterback Baker Mayfield is back. The cupboard is never bare in Norman so Riley is set up to succeed in his first season at the helm.

Stoops will take an advisory position in the athletic department working closely with athletic director Joe Castiglione. At 56, Stoops is still young enough that if he decided he wanted to coach again, he could. I have a feeling that this isn’t last we’ve seen of Stoops. He will either end up coaching again or he will land a T.V gig as an analyst. There is a lot of money being thrown around in television today and Stoops has the looks, the resume and the knowledge to be a top flight analyst.

I must admit. It will be weird not seeing Stoops roam the sidelines at Oklahoma. He has been there so long that I hardly remember the Sooners before he got there. Stoops had a great run in Norman. I cannot believe it is over.