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Oklahoma Football: Bob Stoops announces retirement from coaching

By Connor Muldowney

Nov 19, 2016; Morgantown, WV, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops walks the field prior to their game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Morgantown, WV, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops walks the field prior to their game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports /
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After 18 years of coaching the Sooners, Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops is reportedly announcing a sudden retirement.

Shocking news came out of Norman, Okla., on Wednesday as Berry Tramel of NewsOK reported that Bob Stoops is set to announce his retirement from coaching.

After 18 years as the head coach of the Sooners and a sparkling 190-48 record, 56-year-old Stoops is deciding to put football behind him and focus on the next steps in life. It comes as a major surprise seeing as he still has plenty of good years left in him and he’s bringing back a team capable of contending for a national title.

Who will replace Stoops? The report states that offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley will assume head coaching duties and it makes sense as he’s been talked about as a hot coaching commodity for some time.

Tramel’s source had this to say about the situation:

"“Great young coach, the program’s in great shape,” the source said. “Good recruiting class. Got a great young coach that anybody would want to have, ready to go. He’s as good a coach as there in America, at this stage in his career.“And Bob got to do it in his way. Doesn’t get any better than that.”"

Riley is just 33 years old and will have major shoes to fill. Oklahoma has won 10 conference titles since Stoops took over in 1999 and also a national title in 2000. He will go down as one of the best coaches in Oklahoma history.

Related Story: Big 12 Football: 5 teams that can dethrone Oklahoma in 2017

While the news is quite a shock to anyone who has followed college football lately, it makes sense that he would leave the program in Riley’s hands. The head coach will be missed.

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