Top 10 college football programs who put the most pressure on head coaches

Sep 20, 2014; Morgantown, WV, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops on the sidelines during the second quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

5. Oklahoma Sooners

All is not completely well in Oklahoma now. Bob Stoops, head coach of the Sooners since 1999, has undoubtedly seen some better days and better seasons. ESPN’s Big 12 blog states that this offseason could be a critical one for Stoops after “five years of trending in the wrong direction.” When posed the question of whether it’s time for Stoops to go, fans have mixed responses varying between disparaging “three-loss Bob” to being forever grateful of his past accomplishments for the program.

The fact the media is even asking the question, though, is telling. Oklahoma is getting antsy, and even as decorated a coach as Stoops had better show up or show himself out.

A quick look into Sooners’ head coach history reveals that pressuring head coaches comes with the territory. Gary Gibbs, head coach from 1989-1994, started right after Oklahoma was blitzed with penalties due to violating several NCAA rules during the previous coach’s tenure.

Despite being handicapped with a smaller roster due to scholarship losses, Gibbs managed more winning seasons than losing ones during his five years including two 9-3 seasons, but was still ushered out due to his tragic record against Oklahoma’s major rivals.

Gibbs was then succeeded by Howard Schnellenberger, who was so unpopular that after his one 5-5-1 season he resigned a month later. Succeeding him was John Blake, who contributed three consecutive losing seasons. Needless to say, Oklahoma fired him immediately.

The Sooners have recently taken a backseat to other Big 12 teams like Baylor and TCU, and they are not happy about it. Let’s hope, for Stoops sake, that he can boost them from passenger to driver in 2015.

Next: Nebraska