We’re still two hires away from the Big 12 coaching carousel slowing to a stop in time for spring practice. Four Big 12 staffs experienced significant changes this offseason, and only three retained everybody entering 2016: Baylor, Kansas State and Oklahoma State. A recap of all the changes so far:
Iowa State
In: Hired Matt Campbell (head coach), Tom Manning (OC/OL), Jim Hofher (pass game), Jon Heacock (DC/S), Brian Gasser (WR/ST), Alex Golesh (TE/RC), Eli Rasheed (DL), Tyson Veidt (LBs), D.K. McDonald (CBs); retained Louis Ayeni (RBs)
Campbell leaned on guys he knows and trusts with his first staff at Iowa State. He brought over six of his assistants from Toledo. He also reunited with Ayeni and Golesh, two former Toledo assistants, and he’d previously worked with Hofher at Bowling Green. The progress they made in recruiting during their first months together suggests this will be a tight group that understands how important it is to make Iowa State football exciting again.
Kansas
Out: Reggie Mitchell (Arkansas), Klint Kubiak (Denver Broncos), Calvin Thibodeaux (Oklahoma), Kevin Kane (Northern Illinois), Gary Hyman (Indiana State)
In: Hired Tony Hull (RBs), Jason Phillips (WRs), Michael Slater (DL), Todd Bradford (LBs), Joe DeForest (ST)
The fact Oklahoma, Arkansas and the Broncos poached KU coaches after an 0-12 season tells you David Beaty made some nice hires with his first staff. Phillips and Slater have the Texas ties -- Phillips has coached at SMU and Houston, Slater comes from Rice -- that Beaty covets. DeForest is a Big 12 veteran and once coached with Bradford at Oklahoma State. KU grabbed respected high school coach Tony Hull out of New Orleans Warren Easton to coach running backs.
Oklahoma
Out: Diron Reynolds (Stanford)
In: Hired Calvin Thibodeaux (DL)
Reynolds proved to be a great hire by Bob Stoops but couldn’t turn down a chance to return to Stanford as defensive line coach (he was assistant DL coach there in 2014). That opened the door for the homecoming of Thibodeaux, an All-Big 12 defensive lineman for the Sooners who graduated in 2006.
TCU
Out: DeMontie Cross (Missouri)
In: Promoted Zarnell Fitch (DL)
Cross, a Missouri alum, went home to serve as defensive coordinator under new coach Barry Odom. Gary Patterson promoted from within and used the vacancy as a chance to bump up Fitch, TCU’s director of high school relations since 2014. Before that, the TCU grad was head coach at Dallas Lincoln High.
Texas
Out: Shawn Watson, Joe Wickline (West Virginia), Tommie Robinson (USC), Jay Norvell (Arizona State), Chris Vaughn
In: Hired Sterlin Gilbert (OC/QBs), Anthony Johnson (RBs), Charlie Williams (WRs), Matt Mattox (OL), Clay Jennings (DBs)
Texas is embracing a major reboot of its offense this spring with four new coaches, led by the Tulsa duo of Gilbert and Mattox. The departure of Vaughn, reportedly due to NCAA issues, was a surprise. But Jennings, who spent six years at TCU before his two-year stint at Arkansas, is an impressive replacement. Johnson, a former Texas back, came from Campbell’s Toledo staff.
Texas Tech
Out: Mike Jinks (Bowling Green), Darrin Chiaverini (Colorado), Kevin Curtis (Louisiana Tech), Trey Haverty (Lamar), Mike Smith, Jabbar Juluke (LSU)
In: Promoted Emmett Jones (outside WRs); hired Kevin Patrick (DL), Joe Robinson (STs), Karl Scott (CBs)
Jinks was one of the biggest winners of the offseason after landing the head coaching job at Bowling Green. Three defensive coaches were dismissed, giving defensive coordinator David Gibbs a chance to improve his staff. Jones, a former Texas high school coach, will be a valuable recruiter. Robinson came from Steve Spurrier’s South Carolina staff and is a West Texas native. Kliff Kingsbury still needs a running backs coach. His initial hire, Juluke, bolted after three weeks for a job at LSU.
West Virginia
Out: Brian Mitchell (Virginia Tech), Damon Cogdell (Carol City H.S.), Joe DeForest (Kansas)
In: Hired Joe Wickline (OC), Matt Caponi (S)
Dana Holgorsen teaming up with Wickline again should be interesting to watch this season because they thrived together at Oklahoma State in 2010. Caponi worked with defensive coordinator Tony Gibson at both Pitt and Arizona and knows his scheme. Mitchell’s exit was unexpected and evoked speculation that Holgorsen’s job security was a factor. West Virginia still must hire his replacement.