Updated 2/13 @6:00 p.m. ET: A day later, the news is official. Well, part of it.
In a release, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops confirmed the departures of assistants Bruce Kittle and Jackie Shipp. The move marks the second and third assistant coaches to depart the program this week.
“Bruce and Jackie both are great professionals who made a positive impact on Oklahoma Football,” Stoops said. “I wish Jackie and Bruce the very best moving forward.”
The whole release can be found HERE.
There’s still no word on whether WVU offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh will join the Sooners’ coaching staff in the same capacity. The release from OU states that Stoops has yet to interview anyone.
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Yesterday, it was announced that Oklahoma’s offensive line coach, James Patton, who specifically oversaw the center and guard units, was leaving the program to take a job with Indiana.
The coaching turnover for the Sooners isn’t done yet, it appears. Multiple outlets are confirming that tackles/tight ends coach Bruce Kittle and defensive tackles coach Jackie Shipp will not return to the Sooners for the 2013 season.
With Patton and Kittle gone, it’s been reported by SoonerScoop.com that West Virginia O-line coach Bill Bedenbaugh will assume the same position at OU. Bedenbaugh previously coached four years at Arizona under current Sooners defensive coordinator Mike Stoops.
2012 was a tough year for OU on both the offensive and defensive lines. The O-line was hit hard by injuries and the Sooners’ interior D-line finished with just 56 tackles, the lowest since 2009, and four sacks.