TULSA WORLD HOMEPAGE | Tuesday, February 09, 2010 | WIRELESS
CONTACT US | SUBSCRIBER SERVICES | SIGN IN SIGN OUT | MY PROFILE PAGE | MY ACCOUNT

Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on RSS
Sports Extra!
Follow us on ...
OU | OSU | TU | ORU | HIGH SCHOOLS | COLLEGE FOOTBALL | COLLEGE BASKETBALL | NFL | FANTASY | OUTDOORS | GOLF | PROS | ALL




SPORTS EXTRA BLOGS
    Sports Editor
Mike Strain
Sports Columnist
Dave Sittler
The Picker
Entertaining & Infuriating

LOCAL PROS

ALL SPORTS

PHOTOS & VIDEOS

OUTDOORS

FIND A STORY

EMAIL ALERTS

SOCIAL MEDIA

RSS FEEDS

CONTACT US
BUY PHOTOS & PAGES

TULSA WORLD

ADVERTISE ON SPORTS EXTRA



Newspaper View Newspaper View      Print this story Print      Email this story Email     
Share      Bookmark Bookmark

Cowboy assistant Luper leaves for Auburn
Gundy says Auburn also asked to speak with Trooper Taylor.

GONE SOUTH
Curtis Luper: Leaves OSU after four seasons.
 
By BILL HAISTEN AND MATT DOYLE World Sports Writers
Published: 1/3/2009  2:27 AM
Last Modified: 1/3/2009  2:45 AM

 Three days after the Cowboys' season ended with a Holiday Bowl loss to Oregon, there was turnover on the Oklahoma State football coaching staff.

On Friday, running backs coach Curtis Luper accepted the same position on Gene Chizik's new staff at Auburn.

Late Friday, Cowboy head coach Mike Gundy confirmed that Auburn also had requested permission to speak with co-offensive coordinator Trooper Taylor, who just completed his first season on the OSU staff.

Gundy said he did not know whether Auburn had extended a job offer to Taylor. It is believed that Taylor also has been interviewed for the offensive coordinator position at Miami (Fla.).

An attempt to reach Taylor by phone was unsuccessful.

"(Auburn) asked for permission to speak with both (Luper and Taylor), and I would never deny anybody permission to speak with any of my coaches," Gundy said. "I go through this every January. That's what happens when you win games. In January every year, our profession becomes a revolving door."

As of next week, the OSU staff resumes recruiting, and Gundy has at least two staff openings. If Taylor departs, there will be three staff openings. Gundy also must hire a defensive coordinator to succeed Tim Beckman, who departed last month to become the new head man at Toledo.

"What can you do? Coaching changes happen after bowl games — and during recruiting," Gundy said. "When you bring guys in and they do a good job, people come after them. That's just the way it is."

After luring Tulsa offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn earlier this week to run the Auburn offense, Chizik enticed the 42-year-old Luper to leave OSU. According to a source, Luper will be paid $400,000 annually at Auburn. His OSU salary was $228,000.

In 1995, Chizik and Luper were co-workers on the Stephen F. Austin staff. Chizik coached linebackers while Luper was a defensive graduate assistant.

Explaining his decision to leave OSU, Luper said, "When you add it up, it was too good to turn down. I'm getting back with my mentor. My foundation was established with coach Chizik. Every job I have got in coaching, he placed calls on my behalf.

"That was one of the factors. This was a bittersweet day for me. Oklahoma State has been better than good for me. I have learned a lot in the last four years. But ultimately, I want to become a head coach."

On Friday, Luper informed the Cowboy running backs that he was headed to Auburn.

"Those are my guys. We're all attached together," Luper said. "I thanked them for everything they've done. They were excited for me and my family. And those guys will always be a part of my family. They knew it's a decision that I had to make from a professional standpoint."

Luper on his resignation conversation with Gundy: "He is very supportive. He understands my goals and aspirations."

It is believed that OSU recruiting coordinator Robert Matthews is a candidate for the running backs position vacated by Luper.



Bill Haisten 581-8397, Matt Doyle 581-8316
bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com, matt.doyle@tulsaworld.com
By BILL HAISTEN AND MATT DOYLE World Sports Writers

Newspaper View Newspaper View      Print this story Print      Email this story Email     
Share      Bookmark Bookmark


COMMENTS 
      Add your comment Show: Most Recent Comment First

1 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
Report Comment Reporting Comments

If you see a comment that violates our terms and conditions, please help us by clicking the "Report this Comment" link next to a comment. That will alert the web staff to review the comment. Thank you.  -- Web Editor Jason Collington
 

 
Report Comment
Col Don Martin, Loudon (1/4/2009 12:33:52 PM)
What's happening to the Mike Gunding/Boone Pickens retention program. Look what happened to the University of Tennessee when they let Trooper go to Stillwater. The guy is not only a terrific running back and receivers coach, but one of the best recruiters in college ball. It's time to get over what happened in San Diego and concentrate on what we have and bringing in new. Get out of that "if there's a way to lose, we'll find it" mind set. Be a winner, keep the Troop.
 

 
Add Your Comment 
In order to post a comment on this article, you must sign in to Tulsaworld.com. If you do not have a site account, you can create an account for free.

 
Post Your Comment
 



Home | About Tulsa World | Advertise With Us | Privacy | Usage Agreement | FAQ and Help | Contact Us | Today's Headlines
Copyright © 2010, World Publishing Co. All rights reserved.