What Oklahoma Sooners assistant coach is under the most pressure to deliver in their 2025 season?
While the Oklahoma Sooners changed both coordinators from 2024, they retained most of their staff on both sides of the ball. They certainly received plenty of pushback on the idea of keeping some coaches who played key roles in their worst offense in decades, but I think keeping most of the staff was a smart […]
While the Oklahoma Sooners changed both coordinators from 2024, they retained most of their staff on both sides of the ball. They certainly received plenty of pushback on the idea of keeping some coaches who played key roles in their worst offense in decades, but I think keeping most of the staff was a smart move.
However, keeping the same staff opens the door for plenty of pressure on the coaches to deliver after a horrific season. If the results aren't there, then fan pressure might be too much, and more than a few jobs could be lost at the end of the season.
With multiple coaches on the hot seat, it's hard to narrow down to just one coach under the most pressure. It's worth discussing to keep an eye on as the season arrives.
Oklahoma Sooners assistant coach under the most pressure to deliver in 2025
Joe Jon Finley, Tight Ends coach
For rather obvious reasons, Joe Jon Finley is the main coach under the most scrutiny. I'm surprised he still has a job after some disastrous results in his position group and the prominent role he held in the Sooners' worst offense in decades.
With no returning starters in this room, it falls on Finley's shoulders to develop a playmaker at tight end, something he has failed to do despite multiple seasons in Norman.
If the same holds in 2025, then there's even less reason he should hold a role for the Sooners in 2026.
Emmett Jones, Wide Receivers coach
It's not fair to place the blame for last year's results on Emmett Jones, as you can't ever account for losing your top six players in one position room. That being said, the play of the receivers the Sooners did put on the field in 2024 was well below par.
The Sooners completely overhauled the receiving corps in an effort to churn out better results to gamble on Jones's coaching ability to develop the players in that room. Jones has earned the benefit of the doubt with what he did in prior years, but another down year in this room could spell doom for the Sooners' offense.
DeMarco Murray, Running Backs coach
Oklahoma's running back room has fallen off a tad in development the longer that Murray has been in Norman, and 2024 highlighted just how puzzling his coaching has been. The team's rotation at running back didn't make sense for half the season, and they admitted they wanted to bench and redshirt Xavier Robinson, who carried the offense down the stretch of the season.
Murray can recruit well enough but with some questionable development and decision-making, he's far from earned the benefit of the doubt.
