Report: Oklahoma State Hiring Kevin Johns as Quarterback Coach

Kevin Johns won’t have to travel far from his old job to his new job.

Johns, who was on Oklahoma’s staff in a few roles this past season, is set coach Oklahoma State’s quarterbacks, according to Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde. Johns went to Norman as an offensive analyst this past spring but moved into a co-offensive coordinator role after the Sooners fired Seth Littrell in late October. Johns, 48, has also been an offensive coordinator at Indiana, Western Michigan, Texas Tech, Memphis and Duke in the past.

This report of Johns’ hiring comes a day after OSU officially announced the hiring of Doug Meacham as the program’s next offensive coordinator. Tim Rattay had coached the Cowboys’ quarterbacks since 2020.

Johns coordinated Dule’s offense in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, also serving as the quarterbacks coach. While with the Blue Devils, Johns coached Riley Leonard to All-ACC honors in 2022, as Leonard threw for 2,967 yards and 20 touchdowns while running for another 699 yards and 13 scores. That 2022 season saw Duke’s offense improve from last in the ACC in 2021 to fifth in scoring offense.

As the OC and quarterbacks coach at Memphis from 2019 to 2021, Johns’ three offenses all ranked in the top 40 in total yards. The 2019 season saw Memphis rank in the top 10 nationally in passing yards, scoring offense, total offense, first downs and passing efficiency.

Johns served as Kliff Kingsbury’s final OC at Texas Tech in 2018, where the Red Raiders led the Big 12 in passing offense, ranking fourth nationally in the stat. Tech ranked 12th nationally in total offense and 16th in scoring offense that season.

Johns cut his coaching teeth in the Big Ten. He coached as Northwestern under various roles from 2004 to 2010. He was then on Indiana’s staff from 2011 to 2016, starting as a co-offensive coordinator before being the Hoosiers’ sole offensive coordinator for three seasons.

Johns is the first offensive position coach to be reported to join OSU’s staff, but there have been three reports of new defensive position coaches to coach under new defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported Friday that Jules Montinar was set to coach defensive backs in Stillwater. FootballScoop reported Ryan Osborn would coach the defensive line. And ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Kap Dede will coach linebackers.