Josh Heupel states relationship with Oklahoma 'isn't complicated'

Breakups can be messy. However, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel claims his separation from Oklahoma isn’t complicated.

Heupel has history with the Sooners. The South Dakota native was a national championship-winning quarterback at Oklahoma. Heupel was runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in 2000, leading the Sooners to a victory over Florida State in the 2001 BCS National Championship Game Orange Bowl and a Big 12 Conference championship.

After a short-lived professional career, Heupel returned to Oklahoma as a graduate assistant in 2003. Heupel became the quarterbacks coach for Oklahoma in 2006, mentoring Sooners quarterback Sam Bradford, who won the Heisman Trophy in 2008.

In 2010, Bob Stoops named Heupel and Jay Norvell as co-offensive coordinators at Oklahoma. Heupel stayed in the position for four seasons but left the program after it failed to renew his contract in January 2015 following an 8−5 season.

During SEC Media Days, Heupel spoke on his relationship with his Sooners roots.

“The relationship with Oklahoma really isn’t complicated. I have got nothing but great memories of the people and my time there. I certainly do. It’s a huge — I got a chance to talk about Mike Leach a few minutes ago backstage in an interview. And, you know, everybody there helped shape who I am and where I’m at today, and still got a lot of great friends and teammates that live back there,” Heupel said.

After boosting UT to an 11-2 season in 2022 and the edge of a College Football Playoff appearance, Heupel is doing just fine without Oklahoma in his life. However, he can’t avoid the program for much longer.

In 2024, Oklahoma and Texas will join the SEC. The Volunteers will welcome the Sooners to the conference by traveling to Norman in 2024. Despite his history with the program, Heupel isn’t afraid to compete on Owen Field.

“I wish they were coming to Knoxville first. I say that jokingly, but looking forward to that opportunity. That’s a long ways down the road, man. Focused on ’23, but that will be a unique day in my career, obviously, to go back there,” Heupel said.

Before Heupel can focus on 2024, he must take care of the season ahead of him. The 2022 Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year is entering his third season at the helm of Tennessee’s program. With another highly-touted quarterback in Joe Milton III under Heupel’s wing, Vols fans expect big things.

Watch Heupel lead Tennessee into its opening battle against the Virginia Cavaliers on Sept. 2.