Former OU Head Coach Gary Gibbs Reportedly Joining Gundy’s Staff

Former Oklahoma head coach and respected defensive mind, Gary Gibbs, is reportedly joining Mike Gundy’s coaching staff as either a defensive consultant or analyst, GoPokes.com reported Monday.

Gibbs made a visit to OSU’s fall camp last week and did so again Monday. OSU hasn’t announced any official hiring as of yet.

Gibbs started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Oklahoma in 1975 before being elevated to linebackers coach and, later, to defensive coordinator from 1981-1988. He was then tabbed as Barry Switzer’s successor in 1989, and served as OU’s head coach until 1994 before resigning after a not-so-great 44-21-2 run with the Sooners that included a combined 2-14-1 record against Nebraska, Colorado and Texas during that span.

“Normally when you replace a legend, someone like Barry who had accomplished so much, you take over a program that’s in very good shape,” said Gibbs in 1994. “In our case, we took over a program with extremely high expectations but which was basically a hellhole.

“We were on the verge of receiving the death penalty, so we had to make sure we did everything exactly by N.C.A.A. rules. Which is the right way to do things anyway.”

After Gibbs’ brief stint as OU’s head man, he took nearly six years away from the game before returning as the defensive coordinator for Georgia in 2000. He then had six (!) various coaching jobs — LSU defensive coordinator; linebackers coach for the Dallas Cowboys; defensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints; linebackers coach for the Kansas City Chiefs; defensive coordinator for the Chiefs; and linebackers coach of the Kansas City Chiefs — before landing at Oklahoma State.

Gibbs, 66, will join a star-studded bunch of former coaches to join Gundy’s impressive analyst staff which also includes offensive guru Bob Stitt and defensive specialist Bill Clay.