Offensive line coach Wickline says he’ll stay at OSU
BY BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Oklahoma State offensive line coach Joe Wickline acknowledges having been contacted by University of Texas officials on Sunday, but told the Tulsa World that he intends to stay with the Cowboy staff.
The 2011 season will be Wickline’s seventh at OSU.
“I’m in a great place,” Wickline said. “Based on where Oklahoma State is, we’re in really good shape here and we like the direction we’re going in.”
For several days, Texas media reports indicated that Longhorn coach Mack Brown viewed Wickline as a candidate for his offensive line staff position.
On Friday, Wickline said, "I’ve got a great job here and we’ve had a lot of fun with coach (Mike) Gundy and coach Holder (athletic director Mike Holder). ... Nothing has been said to me on an official basis that would make me think that it would change. That’s the way it’s always been. Any time there are job openings, people are going to talk.”
Wickline is regarded as being among the most effective line coaches in college football. In four consecutive seasons (2006-09), the Cowboys led the Big 12 in rushing. During the 2010 season, OSU had four first-year line starters. In 13 games, the Cowboys gave up only 10 sacks – the lowest total in the conference.
With coordinator Dana Holgorsen and running backs coach Robert Gillespie having moved to West Virginia, Gundy currently is attempting to fill two staff vacancies. Also, it is believed that Cowboy receivers coach Gunter Brewer is a candidate for a comparable position at Ole Miss.
