Bob Stoops is easily one of the biggest names associated with the reboot of the XFL, and the former Oklahoma Sooners coach did not disappoint with his first sideline interview on Sunday.
Stoops, who is the head coach and general manager of the Dallas Renegades, chatted with ESPN’s Pat McAfee about the Renegades’ quarterback situation in their season opener. Starting quarterback Landry Jones was sidelined with an injury, which meant former Minnesota QB Philip Nelson got the nod. Nelson happens to be a clothing model in addition to a football player, so of course McAfee asked about that. Stoops was ready for it.
There was some decent play in the first weekend of XFL action, but many of the real highlights came from the sidelines. We’re not sure if that is a good sign or a bad sign for the league going forward, but we certainly enjoyed it.
USC athletic director Mike Bohn claimed he did not speak with any other head coaching candidates before deciding to stick with Clay Helton, but a report claims the school got to the point of contract negotiations with at least one high-profile candidate.
According to Scott Wolf of the LA Daily News, USC entered contract talks with former Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops, but the deal eventually fell through due to a dispute over how much money Stoops’ coaching staff would be paid. Wolf believes the fact that USC waited until Wednesday to formally commit to Helton proves they were trying to hire someone else, and that person was apparently Stoops.
Many USC fans are furious that the school decided to retain Helton rather than going after a bigger name, and the report about Stoops is not going to ease their frustrations. For what it’s worth, USC could still pursue Urban Meyer depending on what happens next season with Helton. In fact, there’s reason to believe the Trojans could have a better chance of landing Meyer if they wait until after next season.
If he ever wanted to return, USC would be a great spot. They have a winning tradition, great location for in-state recruits, and the ability to win a national championship.
Bob Stoops has been heavily linked to the Florida State head coaching vacancy since Willie Taggart was fired earlier this month, and the latest remarks he made about potentially returning to the college ranks are only going to fuel those rumors.
Stoops, who stepped down as the head coach at Oklahoma in 2017, was asked during a radio interview on ESPN Central Texas this week about potentially returning to college football. He didn’t rule it out.
“Well you never know what the Lord is going to bring you,” Stoops said, as transcribed by Brendan Sonnone of 247Sports. “Everybody wants you to define your life at every age. At 50, they wanted me to know what I was going to do the rest of my life. And at 55, and now at 59 … who knows what I’ll be doing next year or the year after. You don’t know what you’re going to be doing next year. And the good Lord is the only one who knows.
“We’ll see where things end up for me.”
Stoops is currently under contract with the XFL as the coach and general manager of the Dallas Renegades. He has already denied that he is a candidate for the Florida State job, but people are not going to be convinced until the Seminoles hire someone else. If Stoops did decide to return to take another college head coaching job, he would be one of the highest-paid coaches in the game and could likely get out of his XFL deal without much trouble.
You can understand why Florida State would make Stoops its No. 1 target. He had a record of 190-48 in 18 seasons at Oklahoma and won a national championship in 2000. Stoops has been the subject of both NFL and college coaching rumors over the past several years, and the comments he made about that this week are a lot different from what he said two years ago.
A number of reports have indicated that Florida State is closing in on an agreement that would make Bob Stoops its next head football coach, but Seminoles fans may want to wait before they get too excited about the possibility.
Alison Posey of WTXL ABC 27 in Tallahassee reported on Monday night that Florida State is “really close” to a deal with Stoops and could announce the hire as early as the end of this week. However, Bruce Feldman of The Athletic has been given different information, with two sources close to Stoops telling him they are “skeptical” Stoops would take the FSU job.
RE: Bob Stoops/FSU report> Last night I spoke to a two people very close to him who were really skeptical he'd want to come back to being a college coach and take that job. It wouldn’t surprise me that #FSU boosters would want—and try to pursue him though. https://t.co/GyBrKeEC4l
A short while later, Feldman more confidently reported that Stoops is not a candidate for the Florida State job, though his brother Mark Stoops could be.
Bob Stoops (who has turned down some other good FBS coaching opportunities the last couple years) is NOT a candidate for the #FSU coaching vacancy but two coaches very close to him should be–Mark Stoops and Mike Leach: https://t.co/GyBrKen0FL
Stoops announced earlier this year that he has accepted a job as general manager and head coach of the XFL’s Dallas franchise, though he could probably back out of that fairly easily if he decided to accept a high-profile college coaching position. Florida State would almost certainly be able to pay him significantly more than he will make in the XFL.
Stoops, who is now 59, enjoyed great success at Oklahoma before he stepped down following the 2016 season. He finished with a record of 190-48 in 18 seasons at Oklahoma and won a national championship in 2000. There was a time when he was the highest-paid coach in college football, and he has been the subject of both NFL and college coaching rumors over the past several years. Stoops said back in 2017 that he had no plans to return to the sideline.
Florida State fired Willie Taggart over the weekend after he spent less than two seasons with the team. We have already heard some big names linked to the job, and you can understand why FSU boosters would want Stoops. However, it does not sound like the interest is mutual.
Gus Malzahn seems to be on the hot seat every other week, and the most prominent Auburn Tigers booster apparently has his eye on a potential replacement.
Sports By Brooks reported on Tuesday night that if Malzahn fails to beat Alabama this season, Auburn booster Jimmy Rane would target Bob Stoops as the replacement.
Source: SportsbyBrooks has learned that the richest man in the state of Alabama, Auburn superbooster Jimmy Rane, is targeting Bob Stoops to replace Gus Malzahn if the latter fails to beat Alabama this season. #Auburn#BobStoops#JimmyRane#GusMalzahn
Oklahoma reporter Jason Kersey of The Athletic says he does not believe Stoops would have any interest in a return to the college game.
If Bob had any serious interest in returning to the college game — which I don't believe he does — he wouldn't be coaching in the XFL right now. The XFL gives him exactly what he wants: The ability to coach football without all the BS, the recruiting, the late-night phone calls
Stoops surprisingly retired in June 2017, and the Oklahoma Sooners’ program was turned over to Lincoln Riley, who has posted excellent results. Earlier this year Stoops was announced as the GM and head coach of Dallas’ XFL franchise. We can’t imagine he went the last few years without other college offers, so maybe what Kersey says about Stoops wanting to avoid college is true. Or maybe someone would have to make it worth his while.
But why would anyone like Stoops want to take the Auburn job? That is probably the hardest job in college football. You have to compete with Nick Saban for in-state recruits, face Saban every year — with your job depending on that game — and the program’s expectations are extremely high. Why would Stoops willingly step into that situation?
Malzahn received a 7-year extension from Auburn in late 2017 after leading the team to a surprising win over Alabama. He has a hefty buyout that calls for him to be paid 75 percent of what he is owed if he is fired without cause. He’s a good coach who Auburn only feels lukewarm about.
Stoops announced, via KWTV in Oklahoma City, that he has been hired to take over as the acting general manager and head coach of the XFL’s Dallas franchise.
“It’ll be challenging for sure. If it wasn’t, I wouldn’t do it,” Stoops told KWTV. “And if it’s not fun I won’t do it. But I respect the guys running things. But this is ‘real football.’ If it was something goofy or have those old goofy names, I wouldn’t be associated with it.”
The XFL, which will return with a 10-week season beginning in February 2020, is Vince McMahon’s second attempt to create a football league to run during the NFL’s offseason. The first go-around, which came in 2001, was marred by bizarre rules, gimmicks and dwindling fanfare.
Stoops, 58, went 190-48 in 18 seasons as Oklahoma coach, with one national title victory and 10 Big 12 titles. He has not coached since 2017 and previously said he wasn’t interested in returning to the sidelines.
Former Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops may be looking to get back into coaching after all.
According to NFL reporter Benjamin Allbright, there is chatter in football circles that Stoops wants to return to coaching, and may do so in the XFL.
Had several interesting conversations in the last 24 hours suggesting that former Oklahoma HC Bob Stoops may be looking at getting back into coaching, with the new XFL.
Will Bob Stoops get back into coaching any point soon? If Steve Spurrier has his way, the answer would be yes.
This weekend is a big one for Stoops, who is having a bronze statue of his likeness unveiled before the Sooners’ spring game on Saturday. The former Oklahoma coach met with the media on Friday to talk about the honor and was asked some pertinent questions, such as whether he will return to coaching. He says that Spurrier has been recruiting him to join his staff.
Will Bob Stoops coach again?
Stoops, chuckling: “Coach Spurrier keeps nagging me about being his d-coordinator in that new league”
Last week it was announced that Spurrier would serve as the head coach for the Orlando franchise in the new Alliance of American Football league, which will debut next year.
Overall, the feeling is that Stoops won’t return to coaching yet but may do some media work. He still seems pretty invested in Oklahoma football.
As of now, Bob Stoops says he's still not interesting in coaching again. Doing tv/media was more of a "maybe" but says there's a lot of travel involved and he's got a lot of OU games to watch. #sooners
Even in retirement, Bob Stoops continues to talk his smack.
The former Oklahoma head coach was the keynote speaker this week at the USO Mayor’s Luncheon in Mobile, Alabama ahead of the Dollar General Bowl. As he began his remarks, Stoops declared himself the Governor of Alabama and pointed to his recent Sugar Bowl wins over both Auburn and Alabama.
Coach Bob Stoops now up speaking. Calls himself the Governor of Alabama after beating Auburn and Alabama in the past Sugar Bowls. @mynbc15pic.twitter.com/P2KV1gPW5B
Indeed, Stoops, who announced his retirement in June after 18 seasons coaching the Sooners, topped Alabama 45-31 in the 2014 Sugar Bowl before beating Auburn 35-19 in the 2017 Sugar Bowl, his last game on the sidelines.
Of course, Stoops will never miss out on an opportunity to rip the SEC, and that is something that will continue well into his post-coaching phase.
