Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma football: Worst head coach hires in program history

By Josh Yourish

Unknown date 1995; Norman, OK, USA; FILE PHOTO; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Howard Schnellenberger during the 1995 season. Mandatory Credit: Photo By USA TODAY Sports
Unknown date 1995; Norman, OK, USA; FILE PHOTO; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Howard Schnellenberger during the 1995 season. Mandatory Credit: Photo By USA TODAY Sports /
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NORMAN, OKLAHOMA – OCTOBER 21: The Sooner Schooner takes a run around the field after a touchdown by the Oklahoma Sooners against the UCF Knights in the second quarter at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on October 21, 2023 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma won 31-29. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OKLAHOMA – OCTOBER 21: The Sooner Schooner takes a run around the field after a touchdown by the Oklahoma Sooners against the UCF Knights in the second quarter at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on October 21, 2023 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma won 31-29. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

Whenever a program gets built up, inevitably, some coach will come along and tear it down. That coach for Oklahoma was Gomer Jones, who took over for Bud Wilkinson in 1964.

Jones played college football at Ohio State in the 1930s and was a center on offense and linebacker on defense. He was eventually inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1978 as a player.

When Wilkinson retired, Jones was the natural replacement. He was Wilkinson’s top assistant for 17 years at OU and produced 16 All-American offensive linemen. He just wasn’t cut out for the top job.

Jones went 6-4-1 in his first year but followed that up with a 3-7 record before he resigned as head coach. Jones stayed on as Oklahoma’s athletic director until his death in 1971.

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