Bob Stoops discusses reaction to Lincoln Riley's decision, plans for recruiting

Current FOX Sports college football analyst and former Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops has returned to the program as interim head coach after Lincoln Riley’s departure to USC. Like the rest of the country, the 61-year-old was surprised by Riley’s decision but supportive.

“Lincoln did a great job in his five years as head coach here and I appreciate all he did for this program,” Stoops said. “I’ll always appreciate the close friendship we’ve had and will continue to have. I wish the best for him, Caitlin and their family.”

Stoops is hitting the ground running and recruiting already with just over two weeks left until the early signing period. His recruiting pitch will be simple.

“It’s an easy sell,” Stoops said. “You sell the university. You sell the leadership here that is in front of you and you sell the history of success. Not just in the last 23 years, decades of success. And it is going to continue to happen. We’ve got great leadership, great facilities, a great university to recruit to academically. All of it together is still here.”

The Sooners have lost six pledges since the Riley news was announced last night. Their 2022 class dropped from No. 6 to No. 9 in the On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Ranking.

The biggest name to leave was Los Alamitos (Calif.) Five-Star Plus+ quarterback Malachi Nelson. Nelson is the No. 3 prospect in the 2023 On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

The early signing period begins on Dec. 15, 2021.

Could OU hang on to Stoops permanently?

With Bob Stoops returning to the Sooner sidelines as interim head coach, it begs the question: Could he stay long term? Sitting next to athletic director Joe Castiglione, Stoops provided an answer during Oklahoma’s press conference Monday.

“I’m gonna be here as long as they need me until they find their new head coach, whenever that may be,” he said.

“So it could be more than the bowl game?” the reporter followed up.

“Joe won’t take that long,” Stoops said, laughing.

With that out of the way, Castiglione and president Joe Harroz will commence their coaching search. As they seek out the 23rd Sooners football coach in history, they’ll have a long list of options.

“This job is gonna attract the very best in the coaching world and they’re already lined up and called,” Stoops said. “This is a real job. This is a great job and a great university with great leadership.”

One such candidate is Clemson defensive coordinator and associate head coach Brent Venables. He held the same position for the Sooners from 2004-11. First-year South Carolina coach Shane Beamer, who served on the Oklahoma staff from 2018-20, is another name that has been mentioned.

There’s also been some love for legendary Sooners quarterback Josh Heupel, the current coach at Tennessee. Heupel was the Heisman runner-up in 2000, the same year he led Oklahoma to an undefeated season and national championship. He developed a reputation as an offensive mastermind in three years with UCF before taking over the Volunteers.

On3’s Chandler Vessels contributed to this report.