The Zeitgeist List · coaching
Oklahoma: a coaching history
See Oklahoma’s full 91-year Zeitgeist History →← all coaches
Program GOAT
Barry Switzer
2 Dynasty · 15 Blue-Blood seasons
Built by
Bud Wilkinson
Power Program III → Dynasty (+43.6)
The fall
Gary Gibbs
Blue Blood → Blue Blood (−14.9)
Right now
Brent Venables
the 7th-best of Oklahoma's 10 coaches so far
Brent Venables is the 7th-best of Oklahoma's 10 coaches so far.
Stature & coaches, 1936–2026
The program’s standing over time, with every coach’s tenure beneath it — read down to see who was there for each rise and fall.
Every coach
2022–now
Brent Venablesinheritor
−9.6
22–17
2017–2021
Lincoln Rileyinheritor
Power Program I
55–10
1999–2021
Bob Stoopstransformer
+26.9
191–48
1996–1998
John Blakeinheritor
−13.5
12–22
1989–1994
Gary Gibbssustainer
−14.9
44–23
1973–1988
Barry Switzertransformer
+16.1
157–29
1967–1972
Chuck Fairbanksinheritor
Power Program I
52–15
1947–1963
Bud Wilkinsontransformer
+43.6
145–29
1941–1945
Snorter Lustercaretaker
Power Program III
27–18
1937–1940
Tom Stidhamcaretaker
+10.1
27–8