OU to hire Ben Arbuckle as offensive coordinator
Washington State’s Ben Arbuckle will be Oklahoma’s next offensive coordinator, sources tell SoonerScoop.com. Pete Thamel of ESPN reported the news first. It’s a three-year deal for Arbuckle.
The Sooners have been searching for their next offensive coordinator since firing Seth Littrell on Oct. 20. It’s been a disaster of a season on that side of the ball, fielding a historically bad offense that has led to Oklahoma’s 6-6 record. OU is hopeful a change on the offensive side of the ball can turn the program around. And the Sooners believe they found their guy in Arbuckle.
OU interviewed several candidates for the job. Georgia Tech’s Buster Faulkner and Tulane’s Joe Craddock were considered finalists for the job. Oklahoma ultimately landed on Arbuckle, sending him an offer for the job late Sunday evening. The two sides have been negotiating a deal on Monday, hoping to finalize a contract ahead of the early signing period on Dec. 4. Arbuckle was a hot name in the offensive coordinator coaching carousel, as he also interviewed for the Utah job and was considered their top candidate.
Arbuckle, 29, has been the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Washington State for the past two seasons. Prior to his time in Pullman, he was the offensive coordinator and QBs coach at Western Kentucky in 2022. He was originally a quality control assistant for the Hilltoppers before being promoted to playcaller. Arbuckle began his coaching journey in 2018, joining the Houston Baptist coaching staff as a quality control assistant.
From Canadian, Texas, Arbuckle was a standout high school football player. He passed for over 7,500 yards and with 95 touchdown passes at Canadian High School. He played two seasons at West Texas A&M before beginning his coaching career.
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Arbuckle comes from the Air Raid tree, learning under now-Texas Tech offensive coordinator Zach Kittley at Houston Baptist and Western Kentucky. Under his leadership, Western Kentucky finished the 2022 season as one of the best offenses in the country, finishing seventh in total offense and 15th in scoring offense.
At Washington State, his offense is known for its high-powered air attack. This season, the Cougars are 24th in passing offense, 22nd in total offense and 12th in scoring offense. Arbuckle will have quite the tall task in front of him taking over an offense that ranks 122nd, 124th and 94th in those same categories.
Arbuckle has also helped Washington State quarterback John Mateer have one of the best seasons in the country. Mateer ranks 14th in the country in passing yards with 3,139 and is tied for fourth in passing touchdowns with 29. Arbuckle’s development as a quarterback coach and offensive coordinator was something that made him an attractive candidate for the Sooners. Who his quarterback will be in Norman next season is unclear.
But what is clear is that Arbuckle will be Oklahoma’s next offensive coordinator.
