Four Oklahoma football coaches make ESPN’s ‘150 Greatest’ list

28 Oct 2000: (L-R) Former Head Coach Barry Switzer of the Oklahoma Sooners stands with the Former Head Coach Tom Osborne of the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the game at the Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners defeated the Cornhuskers 31-14.Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport
28 Oct 2000: (L-R) Former Head Coach Barry Switzer of the Oklahoma Sooners stands with the Former Head Coach Tom Osborne of the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the game at the Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners defeated the Cornhuskers 31-14.Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport /
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(Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
(Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /

Bennie Owen was the Oklahoma head coach for 22 seasons, from 1905 to 1926, the longest tenure of any Sooner head coach. During that time frame he won 122 games, lost 54 and 16 games ended in a tie. Owen, after whom the field is named at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, won three conference championships and led the Sooners to four unbeaten seasons.

In addition to coaching the Sooner football team for 22 seasons, Owen also coached the basketball team for 13 seasons (1908 to 1921) and the baseball team for 17 seasons (1906 to 1922).

The 150 greatest college coaches recognized by ESPN represents a who’s who of the college coaching fraternity. The fact that four Oklahoma head coaches, and three in the top 30, fall within that illustrious assemblage of the greatest college coaches of all-time speaks volumes about why Oklahoma is considered one of the top five programs in college football history.