Tulsa World: Gundy says he will wait to replace Beckman

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Gundy says he will wait to replace Beckman

By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Published: 12/5/2008 2:28 AM
Last Modified: 12/5/2008 2:31 AM

As Tim Beckman was introduced on Thursday as the University of Toledo's new head football coach, Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said he will not attempt to hire a new defensive coordinator until January — after the 14th-ranked Cowboys have completed their season with a bowl appearance.

Beckman had been OSU's defensive coordinator for two years.

"I'm not even taking calls from (applicants)," Gundy said. "I (did) that last year for three weeks before the bowl, and it made me miserable."

Gundy's staff has been raided for the second consecutive season. At the end of the 2007 regular season, offensive coordinator Larry Fedora resigned to become the head coach at Southern Miss.

With Beckman having departed, Gundy says he will not give a temporary coordinator title to any of the Cowboys' defensive assistants — Joe DeForest (safeties), Glenn Spencer (line) and Jason Jones (cornerbacks). Beckman coached the linebackers.

"We're going to coach ball and recruit and not get into the hiring process (until after the bowl game)," Gundy said. "The phone rings off the hook. Our concerns right now are getting this team ready to play Oregon or whoever it may be, if we end up being in the Holiday Bowl."

On the subject of OSU's vacant defensive coordinator position, Gundy would not specify whether he might promote one of his staff members.

"There are a lot of coaches out there that I think would be very interested in coaching here," Gundy said.

Beckman offered to coordinate OSU's defense in the upcoming bowl game (most likely the Dec. 30 Holiday Bowl in San Diego), but Gundy encouraged him to focus on his new duties at Toledo. Beckman had one season remaining on his original three-year OSU contract. He was paid $303,000 a year.

"(Beckman) did a great job," Gundy said. "After his first year here, everybody wanted to run him out of town. He came back and rallied and got his system in place.

"(The Cowboys) played much better this year. Obviously, it paid off for him and paid off for us. He's a disciplined, structured guy. He'll do very well as a head coach."

As a redshirt freshman in 2006, Cowboy safety-linebacker Andre Sexton's defensive coordinator was Vance Bedford. For two seasons, Sexton played for Beckman. Next season (Sexton's senior season), OSU will have its third coordinator in four years.

"Coach Beckman left us with a lot of good work habits that we need to carry over," Sexton said. "He brought that competition attitude and the willingness to win at any cost."

Beckman has returned to the Mid-American Conference. In 1998-2004, he was the defensive coordinator at Bowling Green.

Gundy says he really wasn't surprised that Beckman was hired at Toledo.

"I felt like a week ago that he was going to get the job," Gundy said. "We've had two guys take off and become head coaches. Great opportunity for them."

Bill Haisten 581-8397
bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer

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