Monken seems destined for head-coaching shot
Published: 11/15/2011 5:01 PM
Last Modified: 11/15/2011 10:38 PM
In 1995-97, Les Miles was Oklahoma State’s offensive coordinator. In 2001, he became OSU’s head coach. Now, he coaches the No. 1 team in college football – the LSU Tigers.
In 2001-04, Mike Gundy coordinated the OSU offense. In 2005, he succeeded Miles as the Cowboy head coach. Now, Gundy coaches the No. 2 team in college football – the 10-0 Cowboys.
In 2006-07, Larry Fedora was OSU’s offensive coordinator. He now is the fourth-year head coach at Southern Miss. Fedora’s Golden Eagles are 9-1 and ranked No. 20.
In 2010, Dana Holgorsen coordinated an Oklahoma State offense that set several school records. He now is the head man at West Virginia.
This season, Todd Monken is OSU’s offensive coordinator. The results have been exceedingly positive. The Cowboys average 51.7 points while ranking No. 3 nationally in total offense and No. 2 in passing. Monken had not called plays since the 1999 season at Eastern Michigan, but Gundy says Monken is a brilliant play-caller.
In August, Gundy said this: “I’ve watched (Monken) coach and teach and recruit. I have no doubts about him.”
Last month, Gundy said this: “I’m tired of hiring coordinators, (but Monken) has the ability to be a head coach.”
Monken inherited Brandon Weeden, Justin Blackmon and an excellent offensive line. During the spring, Monken will be coaching inexperienced quarterbacks while attempting to identify OSU’s next superstar wide receiver.
If the 45-year-old Monken squeezes big statistics from a rebuilt offense next season, then he will have earned a position in the Miles-Gundy-Fedora-Holgorsen lineage. By then, it will seem a certainty that Monken will get a shot at a head-coaching opportunity.
-- Bill Haisten
Written by
Bill Haisten
Sports Writer
