Oklahoma Sooners Football Welcomes Jerry Montgomery
Oct 13, 2012; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery celebrates with defensive end Craig Roh (88) and linebacker Jake Ryan (47) during the third quarter against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Some familiar names left the Oklahoma Sooners football program when Bob Stoops fired three of his assistants last month. Now, fresh, slightly unknown, names are taking their place. The most recent name to join the Sooners is Jerry Montgomery, the 33-year old defensive line coach that will replace Jackie Shipp.
"“Jerry Montgomery is a talented coach who further strengthens our staff at the University of Oklahoma. I have closely followed Jerry’s progress as he has ascended through the coaching ranks. I have been impressed by his ability to recruit some of the nation’s top student-athletes and then develop their skills once they arrive on campus. We are excited to have Jerry and his family join the Sooners.” – Bob Stoops"
Shipp served on Bob Stoops roster for 14 years, including the national championship season in 2000. When Shipp and Stoops were starting their journey at OU, Montgomery was a 19-year old at the University of Iowa, Stoops’ alma-mater. He is now the youngest member of the Sooners’ coaching staff, one year younger than offensive coordinator Josh Heupel, the quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners football team in that 2000 national championship season.
However, age is just a number, and the players he coached while serving as the Michigan Wolverines defensive line coach the past two seasons speak openly about how important he was in their careers.
"“Want to wish Coach Montgomery and his family luck at Oklahoma. He taught me a lot and I’ll never forget the talks we had … Love you coach.” – Michigan nose takle Ondre Pipkins."
Montgomery worked his way up from a high school coach, to an assistant at Northern Iowa, Wyoming, and finally Michigan. Now, Oklahoma Sooners football fans hope he can turn the defense’s luck around in 2013. He served as one of Michigan’s top recruiters, helping them bring in back-to-back Top 10 classes. As soon as he touched ground in Norman, he was off and running.
Jerry Montgomery reached out to a 2014 four-star recruit already in Georgia defensive end Andrew Williams. The news of the contact came the day that he arrived on OU’s campus. If this is what Oklahoma Sooners football fans can look forward to with their newest coach, Bob Stoops might have pulled off a great hire.