Oklahoma football assistant DeMarco Murray declines offer from Ohio State
By Chip Rouse
Former Oklahoma football star DeMarco Murray is neither Sooner born nor Sooner bred, but he definitely is Sooner loyal.
The Oklahoma football alum turned NFL standout and now Sooner running backs coach reportedly turned down a job offer at Ohio State in favor of remaining at OU. Murray and the OU administration have agreed on a three-year contract extension.
Murray, who joined the Oklahoma staff in 2019 under Lincoln Riley. He was at Arixona for one season before returning to OU. Despite being the second-longest tenured assistant on the Sooner coaching staff, he was the lowest paid at a reported $575,000. He is expected to receive a pay raise under the extension, but the details have not been disclosed.
Originally from Las Vegas, Nevada, Murray played seven seasons in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans and led the NFL in rushing in 2014 with 1,845 yards while with Dallas. That same season, he was a First-Team All-Pro selection as well as NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
Oklahoma has offered running backs coach DeMarco Murray a new three-year contract, @On3sports has learned.
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) March 20, 2024
His name had been tied to the Ohio State opening in recent days. He is staying in Norman.
More: https://t.co/RG1zP0qQle pic.twitter.com/Xlwz2AZW5S
In four seasons as a player at OU, Murray amassed 3,685 yards, which ranks seventh on the Oklahoma career list.
As running backs coach on the Sooner staff, Murray has been responsible for the development of former Sooner running backs Rhamondre Stevenson, Kennedy Brooks and Eric Gray as well as the recruitment of Las Vegas native Jovante Barnes, Gavin Sawchuk, currently on the Oklahoma roster, and Taylor Tatum, the No. 1 running back in the 2024 class nationally.