Arkansas on Sunday fired head coach Sam Pittman in the midst of his sixth season leading the SEC program, and with Pittman's future now up in the air, he could return home like many do in a time of uncertainty.
The Oklahoma Sooners could be a part of Pittman's future after also playing a role in his past.
Sam Pittman has history with Sooners as Oklahoman
Pittman is an Oklahoma native who started his coaching career at the high school level, including as the offensive coordinator at Beggs High School in Oklahoma in 1986. Early in his career at the college level, Pittman spent two seasons as the Sooners' offensive line coach in 1997-98 under John Blake.
After leaving OU, Pittman got extensive experience coaching offensive line before getting his first major head coaching job at Arkansas in 2020. Nearly 30 years later, all that experience could benefit the Sooners.
With Pittman unlikely getting another immediate opportunity as a head coach, at least at a major program, he could follow what has almost become normal protocol today and join a staff as an offensive analyst with his extensive knowledge.
OU head coach Brent Venables loaded up his staff this past offseason, especially on the defensive side, but he also added Kevin Wilson as an offensive analyst to help mentor new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, who just turned 30 years old. The hiring of Wilson was one of the most underrated additions of the offseason that helped turn the Sooners' offense around after terrible production in 2024.
Like Pittman, Wilson was also a recently failed head coach after getting fired from Tulsa. He also had previous ties to the Sooners as the offensive coordinator from 2002 until becoming Indiana's head coach in 2011.
Although they might have failed leading programs, there's no doubting Wilson and Pittman have extensive experience and knowledge that could benefit the Sooners. OU has a solidified offensive line coach in Bill Bedenbaugh, who continues to bring in top talent, but an asset like Pittman would only add the draw for top recruits and their development.
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