Calvin Thibodeaux To Be Named OU Defensive Line Coach
Posted on: February 23, 2016
Image via kansascity.com
TFB can confirm Sooner Scoop’s initial report that former OU defensive end and current Kansas defensive line coach, Calvin Thibodeaux, will be named the new defensive line coach at the University of Oklahoma.
A source at Kansas confirmed that Thibodeaux was in the KU offices this afternoon to say goodbye to the other staff members.
Thibodeaux was a popular name thrown out around this time last year prior to Oklahoma hiring Stanford’s Diron Reynolds, who has since left to return to Stanford after just one season at OU, and now the one-time OU defensive standout is returning to Norman after previous stints with KU and Tulsa, among others.
Despite being relatively new to the coaching profession, from what we can gather Thibodeaux is well respected among his peers. And there will definitely be no shortage of expectations for him coming in among OU fans, especially what with the defensive line being a primary need in this 2017 class following the Sooners bringing in just one DL prospect in 2016.
152 Comments
First
Second again…
Welcome coach. BTW change the shirt before you get here.
Burn it
Looking forward to seeing some great coaching and recruiting from Coach Thib. Hopefully he can coach ’em up and recruit like another former Sooner already on staff. Shout out to Coach Cale!
Ok. I’m with you 100%. Boomer Sooner, coach.
Congrats! Don’t muck it up… /s
Now go get Tupa’i.
Yeppers. That’s the deal for Thibs. He’s a former player. Thus, he probably does have high expectations for his performance at OU. However, because he’s a former player we fans may have higher expectations that he doesn’t **** up our team.
And Wilson too
No ////ssss regarding that Tupai comment, ?
All we expect is him to land wilson, thats not too much to ask, too much pressure, amirite?
Don’t have Marvin stay at the Skirvin when he visits and we have a chance…
Harbaugh can stay at kids’ houses, can wilson stay the night at bobs’? lol
Nicest spot in town probably lol.
The Burj Norman.
I wonder how similar Mike/Brent’s defense during Thib’s time is to Mike’s defense now. Please weigh in. Be specific. Schemes and such.
I can’t get to technical but the switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 is pretty big. Like Thib’s in this defense would have probably been a OLB coming in at 6’1 & 240-250lbs. Those players have to drop in coverage some and there assignments are totally different than a DE in a 4-3. I am no expert but it seems in a 4-3 the DE is usually lined up on a outside shoulder of the OT but in a 3-4 they move in a gap and have a player on each of there shoulders. Overall it seems in a 3-4 the DL are catching blocks so that LBs can make plays and it doesn’t seem that way as much in a 4-3. So many variations though it will make your head rattle. I don’t think it will end up being a problem because all the OU coaches have transitioned from 4-3 to 3-4 guys over the past couple years and they should be able to talk Thibs through any big differences. I think he is a great young coach and great coaches are great in any scheme. My 2 cents worth that is probably only worth about 1/2 a cent. LOL!
I agree and will add:
3-4
Downlineman eat blocks
Lbs flow/scrape to the ball.
You don’t know where the fourth man is coming.
4-3
Lineman can drive their gap and drive upfield more often
Lbs stay with more gap integrity
More size on the line without subbing( something missing vs Clemson)
Cool guy! Knows a lot of studs that he would have played with like AD and Tommie Harris. Might help with recruiting. If we are still on the fire Kish boat could we interview Rufus Alexander??
Ryan Reynolds.
Whatever happened to Ryan Reynolds?
He just got through playing Deadpool.
Somewhat of a complexion problem?
Last i heard he was coaching HS ball in Texas but that was like 3 yrs ago i heard that
Thanks.
That Kish boat is unsinkable at the moment
Welcome aboard coach. Sometimes all a guy needs is the keys to a Rolls Royce. Hope this is it for him. Make it happen ! We are behind you.
My youngest son’s name is Royce. I approve this message ?
Plus he has ties to the Houston area
Ties to Houston, played here so they know his personality and work ethic, young and energetic, I don’t see a downside here
Welcome aboard
First recruit for Thibs – Max Tupai?
Without question.
Marvin Wilson
Houston man to man.
He is a heavy SEC lean at the moment i hope Thib can pull him away
Damn,
Need some talented DTs in this class.
Thibs/OU need to win. Playoff berth
Happiest guy with this hire Amani Bledsoe
Happiest guy with this hire is Calvin Thibodeaux.
Indeed his dream job no doubt, i assume he can’t wait to get started.
Coach Thibbodeaux your not in Kansas anymore. I have total faith you will do a great job, we need a few DTs in this class so the honeymoon is over now, so let’s start working on getting some Booms!!
Quick honeymoon. The man hasn’t even gotten an official Oklahoma Welcome Tweet from Bob Stoops! Ha
Just saying your not in Kansas anymore, whole different animal coaching at OU! But I think he knows that.
Not too many people jamming up this here post…
wrong post
Something tells me he will be more of a recruiter than a technician
Id be happy with something in between Monty and Reynolds..
It’s going to be all about recurting, let’s hope he is a great at it and brings in some top talent!!
I’m hoping the talent we have as compared to where he has been, coaching staff and players, helps Cal rise to the top. It would be nice to keep someone for more than a couple of years. As long as they produce! The talent is here to produce on the field next year. Welcome and don’t F it up! 🙂 Oh yeah, and go get four 4*’s recruited up. Other than that, carry on OUr wayward son, don’t you cry no more.
For what its worth according to 247:
Thibodeaux is credited as a recruiter for a 3 * LB 3 * DT and a 2* CB. Kansas’class included the previosuly mentioned 3* DT as well as one other 3* DT. I always hear that Thibodeaux is a good recruiter because “he almost got Bledsoe” but almost doesn’t count in recruiting. We almost got Daniels, Mayden, Southall, and Cobb. However, obviously recruiting at OU is a totally different animal and carries a much better reputation and I do feel like ths is Thibodeaux’s dream job and we could see him here for the long haul
He was recruiting for KU. He also got those kids from Houston. Who have we gotten from Houston in a while? Exactly. If we go by these so called standards of yours Riley should never have been hired. He recruited a lot of 3* and 2* kids while at ECU.
This 2017 class is shaping up to be something special if we end the recruiting
Year in the same fashion that we have started (refresh page for images):
https://twitter.com/bandytrajan/status/702289789836460033
https://twitter.com/bprzybylo/status/702303887693205504
Trajan Bandy has some dope OU edits
No kidding
This is the kind of passion I love seeing from commits! Having TB in this early should only serve us well as he appears to be quite the hype man. The new facilities, a great young team coming back this next season…doesn’t take a genius to see the future is bright in Norman!!! Have a great day everyone.
Have a great day, brother!
You too buddy!
Welcome back Coach Thibs! I wish you much success and many NFL prospects.
I know that Thibodeaux is a former Sooner, who seemed like an over-achiever as undersized d-end at OU, but folks, the Sooners just hired a position coach from KU and Tulsa–not exactly programs known for defense or winning. I just hope and pray that it turns out right.
Last year we hire a coach from ECU and a WSU and nobody complained
Monty coached at Wyoming.
I’m not concerned about where someone has coached, but what he has done and shown.
You should be happy with the hire then
Riley has always had good offenses. I just have to believe there are more qualified coaches that Thibs. Do you think Saban would consider any position coach from KU or Tulsa?
Saban hired Lane Kiffin!!!!
LOL. And he won a freaking national title with the guy!
Kiffen won two National championships as an assistant coach at USC–you remember the Orange Bowl game against USC?
Kiffin was plutonium when Saban hired him.
No, he hires former players!!! Oh yeah, so did we.
I think Saban would grab anybody that has been rumored to be a cheater and or been ran off from other programs for one reason or another
Tulsa has been raided many a times…who was that OC qb coach that was at LSU a few years back
Of course there are quite a few coaches with better resume’s, but Thibs is very personable and also a DL teacher. He will be a much better recruiter than many coaches with more coaching stops, just because of his demeanor. He’s the full package.
Fortunately, didn’t pay double for a DL coach from Miss State, which isn’t anymore of a program than Texas Tech. I still can’t believe OU hired an OC from ECU. That’s even worse. LOL!
Another positive, since thibs is a sooner at heart.
He won’t be leaving anytime soon.
Solidifies the position for years.
Good to build the relationships needed for recruits.
Here’s a little glimpse of our new Coach Thibodeaux Mic’d up while at KU …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMkPxK8jo2w
Congrats and let’s get it!
Can see a little Jackie Shipp in his style.
Welcome back coach! Feels like it was just yesterday that we were seeing Thibodeaux putting the jersey on rather than coaching it up.
If you think about it. Thibodeaux comes in with more experience at both coaching and recruiting than Reynolds did. As with any hire time will tell if this was a good move or not but on the surface or from the start it seems like a choice with a lot of positives and no OJT.
Didn’t Reynolds have like 10 years of NFL experience?
He did but about half as QC. Asst DL coach at Miami and Minn. He had been around some good teachers and the tech knowledge showed. Think CT will be good. As good?? Has more ‘time in’ recruiting. Not a grand slam hire on the surface but I’m more than willing to support it and give him time.
Thibs worked with Jim Jeefcoat at Houston which is probably the most notable name associated with him…not a bad guy to work for though.
Does that include Reynolds time in the nfl?
Marvin Wilson or bust since he is a so called Houston guy, Kansas was Terrible on the D line last year. Should have gotten a $ec D line coach no matter what
Kansas was terrible at football, so your point is? Ha!
#6 in sacks in the Big 12. That means Thibs got the worst D line in the Big 12 to perform better than 4 other teams D line. Not shabby for what he had to work with.
Also lets remember that Bledsoe was down to us and KU and I am sure that Thibs was in on him as a recruiter jus sayin!
Long time no talk, Brien! What’s going on, brother?
Work and lots of it plus just been watching what everyone is saying. Kind of take a step back after signing day up to the spring game, which I am hopeful to attend this year. How are you brother?
Lots of work sure beats the opposite of that. I don’t blame you, that’s a pretty good time to hit the refresh button.
Doing well, man. Just getting ready for our 3rd child to be here in late March/Early April!
Sounds awesome brother and congrats. One Fur Baby is enough for me right now. But, need to have a wife or at least a steady GF to be having the real deal lol!
Lol, fur baby. Thanks man- good to hear from you!
which is pretty incredible since Kansas was perpetually down by 20+ points and faced rushing endlessly to run the clock down in the 2nd half.
STAHP RHANNIE
If we can pay the players SEC money, yes. Otherwise, it wouldn’t matter.
Thibs has been recruiting the same high schools OU looks to sign top flight prospects in the states of Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas for the last five years. I’m sure his direct knowledge of OU’s vast tradition and his time as a player will be well received in those same high schools.
#Letsdothis
Not sure I’m happy.
CT..hohum
I’d love to get JY’s opinion on this guy. Is he gonna be a Riley type home run hire?
http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/ou/football/ou-sports-what-kind-of-defensive-line-coach-are-the/article_e98f1c38-152f-5ca4-abb5-ba3aa3ba87e5.html
A 2006 graduate and a four-ye ar letterman, Thibodeaux helped the Sooners win three Big 12 Championshipsand make four trips to BCS bowl games, including a pair of national championship games.
During his playing career Thibodeaux was named All-Big 12 in the 2005 season after leading the Big 12 Conference with 10 sacks, the fifth-most in Sooner history.
Source: ConferenceUSA.com
Calvin Thibodeaux – ‘I’d describe my coaching as being passionate, a motivator and a teacher. In order to be a great coach your players have to trust you and believe in what you’re doing,” added Thibodeaux. “I take the experiences from the University of Oklahoma and learning from Bobby Jack Wright and Jackie Shipp and playing for Brent Venables. Then being able to work beside Jim Jeffcoat at Houston, a guy who played 15 years in the NFL, won a couple Super Bowl rings and coached in the NFL, I’ve been able to carry over all those experiences into my coaching philosophy.’
Good read. Thanks
I’ve got a feeling he’s going to do alright in this environment.
I haven’t read anything on CT but obviously he has something that Stoops is looking for in a DL coach. I think he’ll work hard to prove critics wrong and prove his worth with OU. Looking forward to a great year coming up. does anyone know which way Tupai is leaning?
CT was a very hard working player who over achieved, I would think his work ethic and loyalty to the program would be second to none. I really think he will do a great job. I think we will be very pleased with his ability to recruit.
Agree. He’s a Sooner for Life. He will prove to be the right guy for this job I believe.
Yeah, but Lucious and Jackie were Sooners for life, too.
Pulling for CT to be successful, but was hoping for a big name hire with strong resume that included NFL experience.
Every great coach had to start out as an unknown up and comer. Fortunately we have some history with our new young coach so he’s not “unknown”, just unproven on the scale at which we judge. He may prove to be great, he may not, I can only watch and hope for the best and will not put him down until he gives reason. The best part is I don’t think he’s using this job as a stepping stone, I expect him to coach and recruit with a chip on his shoulder and work with pride he still has as a former Sooner.
Well put, Ray.
Very well put!
Been lurking off and on today, avoiding the spitballs. Figured my opinion on the matter wouldn’t hurt anyone this late in the day. LOL.
You can be quite articulate when you want to….. Surprise surprise surprise 😉
I do my best after getting boozed up on taco Tuesday. 🙂
Dirty margaritas?
Beer, clean.
What? No sloppy Tecates
Not tonight but I cannot deny partaking of the Tecate in the past. 🙂
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Amen. Well said.
…yay?…
Bob being Bob……just wish one time he’d go hire the best guy available like most top programs do. OU shouldn’t be a place where inexperienced coaches learn their trade. This might workout but recent history tells us its unlikely (Kittle, Heupel, etc.). What has he done at Kansas that makes this a good hire? Would he even be in the conversion had he not played at OU?….doubtful.
Dont meant to be blunt but this is a dumbass post.
I’d elaborate but its not worth the effort.
Who says he didn’t? Over his career as HC of OU he has very rarely made a bad hire! Kittle that you refered to is the only one I can really think of at this time. Heupal wasn’t a bad hire in fact most people thought he was an excellent hire when Bob promoted him to OC. That move proved to be a little premature but as proven by the fact that he has been hired twice as OC since he left OU proves that many in college football like his potential. Stoops doesn’t always hire the guy people are talking about but by and large he has hired a good coach proved by the fact that so many of his assistants get poached by other schools! Maybe not as much recently but I think he has earned the benefit of the doubt! Also Kansas was a popular place for teams to poach coaches this year including 2 SEC teams and the NFL Miami Dolphins!
Every crimson colored OU fan thinks every hire is the best…until it isn’t. Did letting Heupel learn on the job help OU? The next time JH puts together a great season as an OC, it will be his first. I think you just proved my point. Even if a potential hire is a can’t miss ex-OU player or Iowa teammate, let them learn the job elsewhere and hire proven commodities. Nothing against Thibodeaux but he isn’t even in the conversation if he hadn’t played at OU.
“Every crimson colored OU fan thinks every hire is the best…until it isn’t.” Well, except you, of course.
Read through the posts of this “Sooner Fan” – All (make that ALL) of his comments are not just negative, but denigrate coaches and OU with little reason and less class.
Morning Cush! Yes, this is one of those that I ignore any and all comments from (the one you are referring to).
Hi there Golf. Looked for the News, came here and stepped into this – I just hope today doesn’t shadow the insanity from yesterday – and THAT “person” who can type, but not think.
I saw some of the aftermath yesterday, that crap is not needed around here. UGH! People need to get a life.
Morning Golf. Anything new happen while I was away?
Morning Oracle!
Some of these people wouldn’t be happy even with hiring Vince Lombardi. Geez…
No kidding! Give them $10 million and they would complain it wasn’t 20.
Golf, Gotta’ make the trek to work. When Jordan gets the news up, you and Oracle keep things in line. 🙂
We will try!
With Golf and I in charge? Oh no….SD and his brothers are gonna ransack the place.
“People” – you are generous in your expression of the master-of-board-venom that ransacked things for a couple of hours.
LOL! I know, I was trying to be nice.
Agreed. Good morning, Cush! Lol, “stepped into this”.
Good morning, Golf! Where’s the daily post?!
Morning Jake! It is up now.
The sad thing is, Cush, he really thinks he’s a fan. There is something seriously wrong with the minds of people who crossover, lose their way, and post this kind of stuff. They are mentally disconnected because they have somehow managed to convince themselves this is cool. Just like that idiot yesterday, “there is only one.”
I know some people who “think” this way and claim to be fans. I’ll never understand it. They must be miserable all the time about numerous subjects is all I can make out of it. They are the scorpion to the frog. It is who they are.
Guess when it comes down to it I would way rather be a “crimson colored OU fan” than a crusty brown faced OU fan because I wore a a$$ hat all day!
I think he may be admitting to something there…; )
Toats, where have you been, brother?
I’m always creeping!
Your nuts and if you don’t like Bob Stoops and or OU then find a new team
It is that simple. Stop acting like you are some damn Notradomis when it some to football and coaching hires. I am talking about facts regarding the coaching hires to date not opinions on how they will work out in the future. Fans like you are just plan horrible cause everybody that doesn’t believe the sky is falling like you it is because they have “crimson colored glasses” just plan and simple BS!
After some due diligence, (that is really checking out what his peers, former coaching staffs and players had to say about him) I was really impressed. Bitching about a coach or player for that matter, is really ugly. I hope you get a happy pill to start your day. Unqualified disregard of a coach’s talent level is childish at best and just plain stupid, I hope you are not either.
With that dumb analysis, maybe we should fire Viney due to his lack of experience. Viney NEVER worked a full time job before and we offer him one … oh the horrrrahhhh. Geeezz
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Sorry if I am some young kid and I see Oklahoma not try to hire the best of the best I’m not even going to consider them…. after 16 years you would think Bob would have learned that championships are won with defense
What I read was that they tried what you might consider the best of the best and one didn’t want to leave his present position and the other had just taken another job. It’s not like Calvin Thibodeaux was their first, or only choice, but I’m going to give him a chance to see how he recruits and coaches before saying they made a mistake. And I’m pretty sure Bob knew about championships being won by defense before he spent 16 years at Oklahoma and I doubt that he has forgotten it.
Take a deep breath and relax. Getting upset about things that you can’t control is a waste of time.
Guess I am one of the few that is excited about the hiring of Thibs.
I’m excited as well. Young guy that if he does well, can be around for a few years. I think he will surprise folks on how good he is.
I think TC will prove to be a great hire! He’s a young energetic coach that bleeds crimson and creme. He has already proved himself within the coaching community that he is a hot up and comer. I expect him to stay longer considering his allegiance to OU and that certainly takes care of one problem. He is also a good example for potential recruits to view as to what kind of success a young man can have at OU and that the program takes care of their players.