Tulsa World: OU's Wilson earns award for high-speed makeover

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OU's Wilson earns award for high-speed makeover

Former Arkansas head coach Frank Broyles (left) greets Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson in Little Rock, Ark., after Wilson won the Frank Broyles Award, given to the nation's top assistant coach. Danny Johnston/Associated Press

By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 12/10/2008 2:26 AM
Last Modified: 12/10/2008 2:44 AM

Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson thinks he might have done his best coaching job two years ago, when the Sooners had to pick up the pieces after Rhett Bomar's dismissal and Adrian Peterson's broken collarbone and still won the Big 12 Conference.

"That was a harder coaching job," Wilson said. "This one, I've tried not to screw it up."

In reality, no college football aide had a better year than Wilson, who took an already potent OU offense, did away with the huddle and added a race-car play-calling pace. Wilson's offense set an NCAA record for points (702) and became the first unit in NCAA history with a 4,000-yard passer and two 1,000-yard rushers.

On Tuesday, Wilson, 47, was humbled to be honored with the 2008 Frank Broyles Award, given to the nation's top assistant coach.

"Coach Broyles was one of the icons," he said. "We kind of do what we do because of him and coach (Bud) Wilkinson here and coach (Darrell) Royal at Texas and a lot of the legendary coaches that kind of made our game what it is."

Last season, OU averaged 69.6 plays per game; this year it's up to 79.7. With the maturation of quarterback Sam Bradford and the dominance of an experienced offensive line, the Sooners are up 12 points and 113 yards per game over last year. OU also can become just the second team in NCAA history to average 300 yards passing and 200 yards rushing.

"I love the way our offense right now is balanced, run and pass," said OU coach Bob Stoops. "Kevin Wilson and all our offensive coaches together are doing a great job of using all those tools and weapons and making people defend them all."

Wilson installed the new system in the spring, but OU didn't commit to it until training camp.

"I remember when we went to the no-huddle, there was a question of, 'If it's already pretty good, why change it?' " said senior receiver Juaquin Iglesias. "It obviously paid off. It's just been fun being a part of it. I'm glad we changed it."

Among the finalists Wilson beat out was Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong. The two will match wits in the BCS national championship game on Jan. 8 when No. 1 OU meets No. 2 Florida in Miami.

Wilson deflected any individual praise.

"I know it's a reflection of what our group has done," he said.

John E. Hoover 581-8384
john.hoover@tulsaworld.com By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer

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Bird1, Tulsa (12/10/2008 8:04:53 AM)

I just wonder how long we will have Kevin before some other school grabs him for a Head Coaching job.

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