New WR Coach (rumored) Dennis Simmons

[8timechamps]

It's been confirmed by some media outlets, but I haven't seen anything from OU officially announcing his hiring.

I didn't know much about Simmons, other than he was a coach under Leach at Tech (with Riley) and Leach wanted him at Washington State (which is where he will be coming from). I looked up some information and came across a story on a Wazzu site. If you want to read it, here's the link (http://www.cougcenter.com/wsu-cougars-football/2015/2/2/7966005/dennis-simmons-wsu-football-oklahoma-recruiting). This part stood out most to me:


Losing Simmons would be a major blow for WSU. Leach has done a fine job of filling assistant coach spots as they've come open -- with WSU improving in many of the instances. Doing so if Simmons does depart will be a big challenge. He's a tremendous recruiter in Southern California, an area WSU hits hard, and a damn fine wide receivers coach.

So, he appears to be a really good position coach (and given how well the receivers have done at Tech and WSU under Leach, that's not surprising). And perhaps more importantly, he's a "tremendous" recruiter. Just what we need!

[BoulderSooner79]

When we get into 3rd and long this year, if we can drop back and pass with the defense knowing what's coming and still convert a decent percentage of the time, I'll be happy. That situation felt utterly hopeless last season.

[cherokeebrewer]

Dennis Simmons is a great hire for Riley's offense.

[Eielson]

Not just a good recruiter, but a good recruiter in California! I would love to be able to raid Cali.

And Stoops couldn't be much clearer on what he wants to do. He talked so much about bringing in guys with a system already, and then brought in two Leach guys. I don't think we'll pass as much as a team like WSU, but we're going to pass, pass, and pass some more in the coming years. That's for sure. As long as we can do it well, I'm fine with that.

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

He worked with Riley at TTech apparently (Riley - Inside Receivers, Simmons - Outside Receivers). It looks like he is pretty good at creating a WR corps - getting guys to up their game so that they can spread the ball around. This has resulted in quite a few inherited guys being all conference. His recruiting seems to come in waves, but he seems to be pretty good at getting juco WRs and walkons (hopefully that translates to some better evaluation here).

Interesting Recruits

Alex Torres (TTech) Walkon (with Riley)

2010 ECU Class
Lance Lewis - Juco - 22 games - 149/1716/22 TDs
Justin Hardy - Walkon at ECU (broke Broyles record). walkon? really?

2013 WSU Class
Vince Mayle - Juco had 106/1483 yards
River Cracraft (so) - 66/714 yards

[stoopified]

I guess Dennis had to go into coaching because his brother Gene told him he wasn't good enough to be in the band. :)

[BoulderSooner79]

...
And Stoops couldn't be much clearer on what he wants to do. He talked so much about bringing in guys with a system already, and then brought in two Leach guys. I don't think we'll pass as much as a team like WSU, but we're going to pass, pass, and pass some more in the coming years.
...


Which reminds me - has anyone heard from TDTW lately? Maybe we should dispatch a search party to check all the ledges around town.

[Eielson]

Which reminds me - has anyone heard from TDTW lately? Maybe we should dispatch a search party to check all the ledges around town.

I was thinking the same thing as I wrote that, and I've actually checked this thread a time or two just in anticipation of his response. I'm 157% sure he's going to be pissed.

[BoulderSooner79]

I was thinking the same thing as I wrote that, and I've actually checked this thread a time or two just in anticipation of his response. I'm 157% sure he's going to be pissed.

Going to be? He got out of the blocks when Riley was hired - he's built up a full head of pissed steam by now.

[Eielson]

Going to be? He got out of the blocks when Riley was hired - he's built up a full head of pissed steam by now.

This is true. He's been pissed since the 47 game winning streak ended.

[Boomer.....]

I heard yesterday that OU would be formally announcing the new coaches (Cooks and Simmons) next week. They are letting the signing day hype die down first.

There should also be one more coaching change in the works soon.

[cvsooner]

This is true. He's been pissed since the 47 game winning streak ended.

I thought it was when Bennie Owen died.

[rock on sooner]

I heard yesterday that OU would be formally announcing the new coaches (Cooks and Simmons) next week. They are letting the signing day hype die down first.

There should also be one more coaching change in the works soon.

Any guesses?

[stoopified]

Any guesses? Kish?

[Boomer.....]

Kish?

That's the word. It's been rumored for a while now, but I've heard it needed to happen after signing day. I guess we'll see.