Big 12 Football: Head coach power rankings entering 2015

Nov 1, 2014; Ames, IA, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops watches his team prior to the game against the Iowa State Cyclones at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

3. Bob Stoops – Oklahoma Sooners

Career Record (168-44)

Bob Stoops is one of the best coaches in college football, and that’s because he can do it all. Oklahoma has consistently put together top-ten teams and top-10 recruiting classes. Even after a down year in 2014, Bob Stoops is still one of the best coaches in the country.

Stoops was named the head coach of Oklahoma is 1999, and like Bill Snyder, he started his coaching career under Hayden Fry in Iowa. After spending three years as defensive coordinator with Steve Spurrier’s staff in Florida, Stoops was awarded his first head-coaching job.

Since then, Stoops has had steady success with the Sooners. He has only lost 5 games playing at home in Norman, Oklahoma. Not many coaches in college football history have been able to hold a job as long as he has.

The Sooners finished 8-5 last season, and lost 40-6 to Clemson in their bowl game. The fact that an 8-5 record is “disappointing” just shows how successful the Oklahoma program is.

Oklahoma will bring in a new offensive coordinator and might be starting a new quarterback. However, they do return a potential Heisman candidate to their offense in Samaje Perine. It will be interesting to see if the Sooners can rebound and return to a familiar spot atop the Big 12.

Next: Bill Snyder