Oklahoma State hires a defensive line coach
BY JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
Monday, January 14, 2013
1/14/13 at 6:02 AM
Oklahoma State announced Sunday that 11-year Kansas State assistant coach Joe Bob Clements has been hired as defensive line coach.
"Joe Bob Clements has a reputation as disciplined and hard-nosed coach," head coach Mike Gundy said in a press release. "He has good people skills and is a strong coach on the field and has a great reputation as a recruiter."
Former defensive coordinator Bill Young coached Cowboy defensive linemen the last four seasons.
OSU announced Thursday that Young was leaving and that co-defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer, who coaches linebackers, has been promoted to defensive coordinator.
The hiring of Clements completes OSU's defensive staff. The Cowboys have yet to announce who will fill two vacant positions on the offensive staff.
Clements is a former Kansas State player. He walked on, earned a scholarship and played in 41 games over four seasons. He was part of 13 bowl games as a Wildcat player and coach.
Clements began his coaching career at his alma mater in 1999, working his way up from student assistant to graduate assistant to full-time staffer.
In 2003, Clements' first season to coach defensive ends, the Wildcats led the nation in sacks and ranked among the nation's top 10 teams in scoring defense and total defense. Before last season, he was promoted to the position of defensive run game coordinator by coach Bill Snyder.
"Coach Clements has been a loyal and highly competent member of our program for many years and is more than deserving of this advancement," Snyder said when the promotion was announced 11 months ago. "He has been a great asset to our program for many years."
During Snyder's hiatus from coaching, Clements spent two seasons coaching defensive linemen at San Diego State and one season coaching defensive linemen at Kansas.
When Clements was hired at Kansas, then-KU coach Mark Mangino said, "Joe Bob is defined by his hard work and tenacity. We will be a very sound, technical defensive line with a great deal of toughness."
Clements took the job at Kansas after Young (who was the Jayhawks' defensive coordinator and defensive line coach) left KU for Miami, Fla. Now Clements is filling Young's shoes again.
Clements held the title of recruiting coordinator at San Diego State and Kansas State for a total of three seasons.
Original Print Headline: OSU hires D-line coach
Jimmie Tramel 918-581-8389
jimmie.tramel@tulsaworld.com
