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Thumbs up: OU athletic director Joe Castiglione has Bob Stoops' back
Is Oklahoma Sooners coach Bob Stoops on the hot seat?
Not according to his athletic director Joe Castiglione, who has given Stoops a thumbs-up as the coach enters his 17th season in Norman. Of course, season No. 16 didn't go as planned with the Sooners' early season playoff expectations going up in smoke and finishing with an 8-5 record. Staff changes ensued, including the hiring of new offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley to install the Air Raid spread attack.
"I’m very confident in what coach Stoops has done," Castiglione told the San Antonio Express-News. "And I’m very appreciative of continued opportunity to have him serve as our head football coach. He doesn’t need me to underscore all the good things that he’s done. His record speaks for himself."
Castiglione said he's noticed "great energy" since Stoops shook up his staff.
"He’s looked at it all," Castiglione said. "He made important leadership calls and he’s more focused on moving forward. There’s been great energy throughout the program during the off season and spring practice and the things they are doing. I feel very good about coach Stoops and his leadership of our program."
The Sooners enter the 2015 season in an unfamiliar position as underdogs in the Big 12 race. TCU and Baylor, last year's conference co-champions, are again the favorites to win the title and vie for one of the four spot in the College Football Playoff.
The Sooners have yet to name a starting quarterback and there remain concerns about a defense that underachieved last season.
Even as fan criticism has gained momentum over the last few seasons, none of it has added up to Stoops being planted on the hot seat.
"At place like Oklahoma, we set high goals for ourselves with expectations of setting high goals," Castiglione said. "When we don’t meet those expectations, we’re disappointed just like every one of our fans might be disappointed. But we won’t lower our expectations of continuing to be a championship program.
"We have some work to do and some areas to improve, there’s no doubt about that. We’re focused in making that happen."
(h/t San Antonio Express-News)
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