5 dream 'big name' defensive coordinator candidates for Oklahoma

Let's dream a little bit.

It's been nearly two weeks since Zac Alley packed his bags and took the country roads to West Virginia, opening up Oklahoma's defensive coordinator job. And there really hasn't been any leaks since of who Brent Venables could be after to replace Alley.

There's a new rumor, though, that the Sooners are pursuing a "big name" that's been kept quiet. That rumor and the fact the process has seemed to be drawn out also has many speculating that the potential candidate is still coaching a team in the College Football Playoff.

But as soon as "big name" was menioned, Sooner Nation started dreaming, so as we dream, here's a list of five dream "big name" candidates for OU's vacant DC job.

Jim Knowles

Jim Knowles has coached in the state before.

Knowles spent four seasons as Oklahoma State's defensive coordinator, and by his last season in Stillwater in 2021, the Cowboys had one of the best defenses in the country that led them to a Fiesta Bowl win against Notre Dame.

After that 2021 season, Knowles left for a different OSU to Ohio State. In his third season there, the Buckeyes have probably the best defense in the country as semifinalists in the College Football Playoff.

Jeff Hafley

Maybe it doesn't necessarily have to be the College Football Playoff slowing things down but a different playoff.

Jeff Hafley is the defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers, which have a top-5 defense in the NFL this season. The Packers earned the seventh seed in the NFC and will play the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round.

There's a reason I mentioned Hafley from the top NFL defensive coordinators, though. He has extensive experience at the college level, unlike most who have spent most of their careers in the NFL.

Hafley was the head coach at Boston College for four seasons before becoming the Packers' DC last offseason. He was also a co-defensive coordinator at Ohio State before that.

So maybe the Sooners get lucky if Hafley decides he misses college football.

Phil Parker

Phil Parker isn't preparing a team for a playoff game, but he's still certainly a top defensive mind in college football. And he actually is a name that has been mentioned as a big name possibility for OU.

Parker has been Iowa's defensive coordinator since 2012, and the Hawkeyes are known to always have a solid defense under him. A guy has to be consistently good to have the same job after 13 seasons. He also won the Broyles Award as the top assistant in college football in 2023.

Bryant Haines

Bryant Haines' season finished just a few weeks ago after Indiana lost to Notre Dame in the first round of the College Football Playoff. The Hoosiers got that far thanks to Haines' strong defense, though.

This was Haines' first season as Indiana's DC after a successful stint at James Madison. Although this is a dream list, Haines getting lured to Norman actually isn't that far-fetched as an up-and-coming defensive coach.

Glenn Schumann

Glenn Schumann was a name mentioned immediately in OU's defensive coordinator search as an unlikely candidate.

Schumann is at the top of everyone's list, though, after leading one of the best defenses in the country at Georgia the past five seasons. And he's only 34 years old.

OU likely won't land Schumann as its next defensive coordinator, but if the Sooners are looking for a new head coach after the 2025 season, then he could certainly be an option then.