Joe Castiglione breaks down what he wants in next Oklahoma coach

When Lincoln Riley was hired to become USC’s next head coach, it put Oklahoma in a tough position. Now, Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione must begin the search for a new head coach, which will be an important decision as the Sooners prepare for a looming departure for the SEC.

Bob Stoops is set to serve as Oklahoma’s interim head coach. But Stoops said that Castiglione will have plenty of other suitors and that he will only be around long enough for the Sooners to find a full-time headman. Castiglione obviously wouldn’t name any specific names on his wish list, but he did go in depth on some qualities he is looking for as Oklahoma’s next head coach.

“The type of coach that we’re looking for is the type of coach like coach Stoops, the type of coach like Lincoln Riley. The type of coaches we hire in our program,” Castiglione said of Oklahoma’s coaching search. “And that really possess the competency, the confidence, the character, the ability to develop the chemistry in a program and have a clear vision for how they’re going to put this program in a position to constantly compete for championships.

“Know they’re going to be surrounded by all of the resources and people that are committed to the same thing. That’s the Oklahoma way and it’s the way that it has worked. We change with changing rules and environments that require us to be ever mindful of that. But we don’t change our value system and we don’t change our passion. It is locked in.”

Stoops likely won’t be Oklahoma’s next coach, but he has an important role to serve

While it is unlikely that Oklahoma brings back Stoops to lead the football program again, he still has an important role to serve. As things currently stand, he will he on the sidelines and leading the way in Oklahoma’s bowl game. But the impact of Riley leaving for USC will be felt in other places, notably the recruiting trail.

Stoops has already began his efforts, and to him, Oklahoma is an easy sell.

“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.”