Kevin Johns tried to come to the Oklahoma Sooners’ rescue last season, and now, he’s doing the same again just down the highway.
Last season during Week 8, Johns was promoted midseason from offensive analyst to co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach after OU fired offensive coordinator Seth Littrell. This week, almost exactly a year later, Oklahoma State interim head coach Doug Meachem handed over play-calling duties to Johns, according to O State Illustrated.
Oklahoma State promotes Kevin Johns to play-caller
Johns left OU over the offseason after just one year in Norman when Ben Arbuckle came from Washington State to be the Sooners’ new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Brent Venables added Johns to his staff after he served as Duke’s offensive coordinator for two seasons.
Mike Gundy then kept Johns in the state and hired him as OSU’s quarterbacks coach. Gundy was then fired after three games and Meachem, the offensive coordinator, was promoted to interim head coach. Meachem held onto play-calling duties for three weeks until, ultimately, Johns was once again handed a bigger role thanks to a midseason firing.
Johns is a veteran play-caller for a coach to have on hand, though, in that situation, even if it is one no coach ever wants to be in. Johns got to OU with 13 years of experience as an offensive coordinator or co-offensive with stops at Duke, Memphis, Texas Tech, Western Michigan and Indiana. He then garnered another half season at OU, but Joe Jon Finley called plays for the Sooners during that time.
In 2026, Johns will likely join another new staff with OSU eventually hiring a new head coach who is sure to bring in his own assistants to Stillwater. Hopefully, for Johns’ sake, next time he doesn’t board another sinking ship and once again have to be a life boat.