Yeah, this is a bit shaky. The OU Rivals guys said 3 coaches were going to be staying. I was hoping for Cain, Thibodeaux, and Bedenbaugh. I bet we get stuck with Gundy as a WR coach, Finley, and Murray. Bedenbaugh finally says screw it and moves to LA. My overall thoughts on the staff:
Defensive staff:
Grinch, safeties/DC: safeties were the weakest unit - no loss
Manning, CB: reasonable recruiter, minimal development, baffling positional decisions - no loss
Odom, inside LB: played at OU, good reputation prior to OU, OU's LBs looked lost in zone coverage - no loss Cain, outside LB: recruited well, developed players, players seemed to like him - this is the guy I wanted to keep
Thibodeaux, DL: former OU player under Venables, recruiting had picked up over the last couple of years and so had development - there could be a case for him staying.
Offensive staff:
Riley, QB/OC: don't recall that he made much of an impact - no loss
Murry, RB: recruiting was terrible until 2022, but he may bring in OU's only top 100 recruits this year; awful player development - apparently staying but I cannot understand why beyond this year's recruiting.
Gundy, inside WR: played at OU, preceded Venables/Stoops on the OU staff I think; great RB coach, minimal impact as a WR coach, buddies with Venables -- apparently staying (OK as RB coach; NO as a WR coach)
Simmons, outside WR: recruited in odd numbered years only; minimal player development - no loss
Finley, TE/HB: played at OU, recruited ok, develped good pass catchers, but run/pass blocking hasn't been great -- apparently staying; meh.
Bedenbaugh, OL: I've been down on him recently because OL play has worsened over the last 3 years - apparently staying.