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01-16-2009, 02:37 PM
http://www.tulsaworld.com/sports/article.aspx?subjectid=93&articleid=20090116_93_0_Oklaho950279
Gundy: OSU defensive coordinator might not be hired until February
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Published: 1/16/2009 2:04 PM
Last Modified: 1/16/2009 2:12 PM
Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy said on Friday that he may not hire a defensive coordinator until the recruiting campaign is completed with national signing day on Feb. 4.
"I'm not going to rush into it," Gundy said during a telephone interview. "I would say there's a chance that could happen. If it's not the right guy and the staff doesn't agree on it and I don't feel comfortable with it – right, wrong or indifferent, we may not do it (until February)."
OSU defensive coordinator Tim Beckman resigned last month to become the head coach at Toledo. Gundy is believed to have interviewed several candidates.
Two offensive assistants – running backs coach Curtis Luper and co-coordinator Trooper Taylor – departed to join the Auburn staff. On Friday, according to media reports in Minnesota, it was learned that OSU co-offensive coordinator Gunter Brewer had been interviewed for the offensive coordinator position at the University of Minnesota.
"Early in my coaching career, I heard a head coach say that if you lost (an assistant) to another program, it was a great opportunity to bring in a better coach," Gundy said. "I think it's important to always try to hire guys smarter than myself. Why would I want to bring a guy in here that couldn't add to us or give us more? I know that when I look for a coach, I want to bring a guy in here that is smarter than me and has got better ideas and can offer something that myself or somebody on the staff can't offer.
"It's hard to find guys out there that maybe fit the criteria you look for in all those areas, and fit in Stillwater and Oklahoma State and what we're looking for. But you certainly try to do that."
While the defensive coordinator situation remains unresolved, Gundy did fill four other staff vacancies. This week, he hired South Carolina running backs coach Robert Gillespie, promoted Robert Matthews from recruiting coordinator to an offensive assistant's position, hired Johnny Barr as the recruiting coordinator and hired Mack Butler to be the director of football operations.
Gillespie and Matthews fill the Luper and Taylor vacancies. The director of football operations job became open when Jimmy Gonzales was dismissed.
Gundy said he will not discuss the specific responsibilities of new coaches until next month – after recruiting is finished.
Butler, a 2004 Oklahoma Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee, is returning to OSU. He was OSU's director of operations in 2001-04. When then-Cowboy coach Les Miles became the head coach at LSU, Butler followed him to Baton Rouge, La. After four seasons at LSU, Butler has accepted Gundy's offer to return to Stillwater.
The 59-year-old Butler is a Fairfax native who coached high school football in Stigler, McAlester and Wilburton, and in junior college at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. In 1989-99, he was a defensive assistant at the University of Tulsa. He was TU's director of operations in 2000.
This week, Gundy attended the American Football Coaches Association's national convention in Nashville, Tenn. He said many coaches expressed interest in working at Oklahoma State.
"There are so many quality coaches that are out of work during this time of year," Gundy said. "It's heartbreaking at times."
Gundy: OSU defensive coordinator might not be hired until February
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Published: 1/16/2009 2:04 PM
Last Modified: 1/16/2009 2:12 PM
Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy said on Friday that he may not hire a defensive coordinator until the recruiting campaign is completed with national signing day on Feb. 4.
"I'm not going to rush into it," Gundy said during a telephone interview. "I would say there's a chance that could happen. If it's not the right guy and the staff doesn't agree on it and I don't feel comfortable with it – right, wrong or indifferent, we may not do it (until February)."
OSU defensive coordinator Tim Beckman resigned last month to become the head coach at Toledo. Gundy is believed to have interviewed several candidates.
Two offensive assistants – running backs coach Curtis Luper and co-coordinator Trooper Taylor – departed to join the Auburn staff. On Friday, according to media reports in Minnesota, it was learned that OSU co-offensive coordinator Gunter Brewer had been interviewed for the offensive coordinator position at the University of Minnesota.
"Early in my coaching career, I heard a head coach say that if you lost (an assistant) to another program, it was a great opportunity to bring in a better coach," Gundy said. "I think it's important to always try to hire guys smarter than myself. Why would I want to bring a guy in here that couldn't add to us or give us more? I know that when I look for a coach, I want to bring a guy in here that is smarter than me and has got better ideas and can offer something that myself or somebody on the staff can't offer.
"It's hard to find guys out there that maybe fit the criteria you look for in all those areas, and fit in Stillwater and Oklahoma State and what we're looking for. But you certainly try to do that."
While the defensive coordinator situation remains unresolved, Gundy did fill four other staff vacancies. This week, he hired South Carolina running backs coach Robert Gillespie, promoted Robert Matthews from recruiting coordinator to an offensive assistant's position, hired Johnny Barr as the recruiting coordinator and hired Mack Butler to be the director of football operations.
Gillespie and Matthews fill the Luper and Taylor vacancies. The director of football operations job became open when Jimmy Gonzales was dismissed.
Gundy said he will not discuss the specific responsibilities of new coaches until next month – after recruiting is finished.
Butler, a 2004 Oklahoma Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee, is returning to OSU. He was OSU's director of operations in 2001-04. When then-Cowboy coach Les Miles became the head coach at LSU, Butler followed him to Baton Rouge, La. After four seasons at LSU, Butler has accepted Gundy's offer to return to Stillwater.
The 59-year-old Butler is a Fairfax native who coached high school football in Stigler, McAlester and Wilburton, and in junior college at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. In 1989-99, he was a defensive assistant at the University of Tulsa. He was TU's director of operations in 2000.
This week, Gundy attended the American Football Coaches Association's national convention in Nashville, Tenn. He said many coaches expressed interest in working at Oklahoma State.
"There are so many quality coaches that are out of work during this time of year," Gundy said. "It's heartbreaking at times."