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Oklahoma football: Sooners reportedly planning introductory press conference

By Chip Rouse

NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 4: The Sooner Schooner circles the field after a touchdown by the Oklahoma Sooners against the Tulane Green Wave in the second quarter at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 4, 2021 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners won 40-35. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 4: The Sooner Schooner circles the field after a touchdown by the Oklahoma Sooners against the Tulane Green Wave in the second quarter at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 4, 2021 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners won 40-35. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
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Multiple sources are telling John Hoover, who covers Oklahoma football for Sports Illustrated, that the Sooners are making preparations for a press conference as early as Sunday or Monday to announce a new head coach.

We reported on Friday that the search by Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione to replace Lincoln Riley had narrowed to three or four top prospects.

Although Castiglione has been in silent mode since an Oklahoma held a press conference on Monday after Riley’s resignation, an active search has been underway all week, and the belief is two or more of the final candidates are involved in conference championship games on Saturday. That may be why there has been no announcement up to now.

The final considerations are believed to be Luke Fickell, head coach at Cincinnati, which could be headed to the College Football Playoff with a win on Saturday; Brent Venables, former OU assistant and for the last 10 years a highly acclaimed defensive coordinator at Clemson; Dan Lanning, defensive coordinator at Georgia, and Dave Aranda, second-year head coach at Baylor.

Those four are considered the prime prospects to be the next Oklahoma head coach, but there’s also the possibility that Castiglione could throw us a curveball.

Bob Stoops, who has stepped in as interim head coach and will lead the Sooners in their soon-to-be-named postseason bowl assignment, said on his You Tube channel program on Friday that he thought OU’s new head coach would be announced this weekend or possibly Monday.

It is still unclear when an announcement on the new OU head coach will be made, but what we’re hearing is that the news could come as early as Saturday or Sunday, with a formal press conference to follow a day later.

With early national signing day for the 2022 recruiting class just over a week away, there is some urgency attached to the Oklahoma coaching hire so the new head coach can hit the recruiting trail and allay concerns and uncertainty among the existing commits as well as other recruiting targets.

There is also the consideration of Bob Stoops’ induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, which is scheduled for Tuesday night. Castiglione and Stoops will both be attending that event.

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