Report: Mike Stoops headed back to OU

Jan 9, 2012, 4:45 PM | Updated: 4:57 pm

Former Arizona head coach Mike Stoops is reportedly headed back to Oklahoma football.

According to News9.com in Oklahoma, who cites multiple sources close to the OU program, Stoops will rejoin his older brother Bob’s coaching staff at OU this week.

The reports indicate that Stoops will be named co-defensive coordinator, sharing duties with Brent Venables. Mike Stoops was an assistant at Oklahoma from 1999-2003, before taking the head coaching job at Arizona.

Stoops was on the sideline for Oklahoma’s win over Iowa in last month’s Insight Bowl in Tempe. After the game, the elder Stoops was asked if his brother’s presence was a sign of his impending return to OU.

“It doesn’t mean anything,” Stoops said, “It means he’s my brother, and he lives not too far away. Why wouldn’t he come to the game?”

Arizona fired Stoops midway through his eighth season after the Wildcats stumbled to a 1-5 start. His overall record at U of A was 41-50.

During his 5-year tenure as Oklahoma’s defensive coordinator, the Sooners went 55-11 and won the BCS National Championship in 2000.

Arizona Football

Arizona State University president Michael Crow interviews with Doug & Wolf on 98.7 FM Arizona'...
Kevin Zimmerman

ASU, Arizona presidents: Not preparing to leave for Big 12

The presidents of Arizona State University and the University of Arizona went on the record reaffirming their commitment to the Pac-12.
10 days ago
Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark speaks to the media during Big 12 NCAA college basketball media d...
Arizona Sports

Report: Big 12 recently contacted ASU, Arizona amid Pac-12 uncertainty

As a Pac-12 media rights deal remains undetermined, the Big 12 has recently had contact with Arizona State and Arizona, according to reports.
19 days ago
From left to right: Jerry Colangelo, Dan Bickley, Michael Bidwill and Vince Marotta on Tuesday, Feb...
Kevin Zimmerman

The Cardinals bring fresh voices and more Newsmaker Week 2023 highlights

Bickley & Marotta welcomed 25 guests representing Arizona's teams and events to their show on Tuesday through Friday. So what did we learn?
29 days ago
TUCSON, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 25: Head coach Jedd Fisch of the Arizona Wildcats looks over his play ca...
Kellan Olson

Arizona football shifts vision of growth from offense to defense for 2023

While the previous regime didn't leave much room for anything but improvement, Arizona football is trending positively.
1 month ago
Arizona Diamondbacks CEO and president Derrick Hall visits the Arizona Sports studios on Tuesday, F...
Arizona Sports

Arizona Sports’ 2023 Newsmakers Week recap

The important figures making the biggest decisions in Arizona sports join Bickley & Marotta throughout a one week span each February.
28 days ago
Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort speaks with reporters during his introductory press conference...
Jake Anderson

Arizona’s Jedd Fisch: Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort will bring an ‘unbelievable attention to detail’

Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort and Arizona Wildcats football head coach Jedd Fisch go back over 20 years.
2 months ago
Report: Mike Stoops headed back to OU