All Sooners

COLUMN: Jeff Lebby's Departure Eats Away at Continuity, But Oklahoma's Offense Will be Fine

Since Bob Stoops' arrival, the churn at offensive coordinator has rarely slowed down the Oklahoma offense.

Ryan Chapman

COLUMN: Jeff Lebby's Departure Eats Away at Continuity, But Oklahoma's Offense Will be Fine
COLUMN: Jeff Lebby's Departure Eats Away at Continuity, But Oklahoma's Offense Will be Fine /
In this story:

Sunday, Jeff Lebby accepted the head coaching job at Mississippi State, sending Brent Venables on the hunt for a new offensive coordinator at Oklahoma.

Lebby’s return to Norman was brief, just two seasons before taking the next step in his coaching career.

The timing could have been better for the Sooners.

Next year, OU will embark on a new journey in the Southeastern Conference, likely with Lebby’s handpicked quarterback in former 5-star recruit Jackson Arnold.

But Lebby’s departure was preordained if everything stuck to plan.

Tempting an up-and-coming offensive mind to return to Norman was always going to end in Lebby taking a post at the helm of another program across the country. Though the timeline was likely sped up, success in college football ultimately leads to attrition.

It’s the sign of a healthy program. Just ask Alabama.

Bob Stoops had four offensive coordinators — Mike Leach, Mark Mangino, Chuck Long and Kevin Wilson — hired directly into head coaching roles off his staff, as well as defensive coordinator Mike Stoops.

Kevin Sumlin went directly from a role on Stoops’ staff to Houston’s head coach, and Josh Heupel and Jay Norvell eventually landed head coaching jobs after things didn’t work out in Norman. Lincoln Riley even took over for Stoops when he retired.

Through all the turnover, Oklahoma’s offense rarely dipped.

Since 2000, the Sooners have finished outside the top 25 in total offense five times (2001, '02, '05, '06 and '13). In just three of those seasons did OU finish outside the top 40 nationally.

Stoops’ 2001 team finished No. 66 overall in total offense, but Oklahoma rode a dominant defense to end the season 11-2, beating Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl.

In 2005, OU’s offense recorded its worst finish in Stoops’ tenure. With a new offensive line and new quarterback, the Sooners ended the year ranked No. 72 in total offense. Oklahoma’s win over Oregon in the Holiday Bowl pushed the team’s final record to 8-4.

The 2013 Sooners ended 52nd in total offense, which was good enough to fuel an 11-2 season that closed with a Sugar Bowl victory over the Crimson Tide.

Lebby’s offenses in Norman were explosive, and his loss will impact the 2024 Sooners.

Oklahoma will lose continuity, as the new offensive coordinator will have to install the intricacies of his system this offseason. Sticking with the same system for the third consecutive offseason on both sides of the ball would have been the ideal scenario for the Sooners as they enter the SEC.

But Lebby didn’t leave the cupboards bare.

Arnold is poised to take over, a fact that has the staff in Norman flush with excitement.

He’ll have plenty of weapons, too.

Running back Gavin Sawchuk, finally healthy, lived up to his preseason billing down the stretch. The redshirt freshman stacked four consecutive 100-yard rushing performances to close the regular season, which should serve as a springboard into 2024.

Tawee Walker and Jovantae Barnes can return as well, and the Sooners are positioned to sign the top running back recruit in the 2024 class in Taylor Tatum. 

Wide receiver Jalil Farooq can return as OU’s top option, flanked by dynamic Nic Anderson and Jayden Gibson.

Along the offensive line, the emergence of Cayden Green and Jacob Sexton means Bill Bedenbaugh has a pair of young pieces to serve as the foundation for another physical unit.

Andrel Anthony’s return from injury will give Arnold a vertical threat, and first-year burner Jaquaize Pettaway hasn’t even had a full offseason to work with wide receivers coach Emmett Jones yet.

Regardless of if Venables promotes from within, turning to any of Seth Littrell, Matt Wells or Joe Jon Finley, or if Venables picks an external candidate, Oklahoma has the pieces to once again put up plenty of points in 2024.

Lebby’s stay in Norman was important to ensure the pipeline of great OU quarterbacks would continue to flow, but the program has a legacy of turning offensive coordinators into head coaches and reloading with another capable coach to call the plays. 

Published
Ryan Chapman
RYAN CHAPMAN

Ryan is deputy editor at AllSooners and covers a number of sports in and around Norman and Oklahoma City. Working both as a journalist and a sports talk radio host, Ryan has covered the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the United States Men’s National Soccer Team, the Oklahoma City Energy and more. Since 2019, Ryan has simultaneously pursued a career as both a writer and a sports talk radio host, working for the Flagship for Oklahoma sports, 107.7 The Franchise, as well as AllSooners.com. Ryan serves as a contributor to The Franchise’s website, TheFranchiseOK.com, which was recognized as having the “Best Website” in 2022 by the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters. Ryan holds an associate’s degree in Journalism from Oklahoma City Community College in Oklahoma City, OK. 

Home/Football