Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops is retiring, says 'the timing is perfect'

Published Jun. 7, 2017 8:04 p.m. ET

Zack Pierce

Bob Stoops, the longtime Oklahoma head coach who led the Sooners to an undefeated season and national championship in 2000, is retiring effective immediately.

Offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley will take over. NewsOK.com's Berry Tramel first reported the news.

In just his second season in Norman, Stoops brought Oklahoma back to glory, going 13-0 and winning the 2001 Orange Bowl over Florida State to clinch the school's first national championship since 1985. The Sooners never returned to such heights in the years since, though, despite nine more Big 12 titles and 13 more seasons of 10-plus wins. They lost the BCS National Championship Game after the 2008 season to Florida.

Stoops was to inform his team Wednesday, Tramel reported.

Why the sudden move from Stoops? He released a statement Wednesday explaining the decision, saying he feels "the timing is perfect."

https://twitter.com/BruceFeldmanCFB/status/872546037902196736

FOX Sports' Bruce Feldman reported that there will be no "interim" tag on Riley's tenure.

https://twitter.com/BruceFeldmanCFB/status/872534545353940993

Stoops was 190-48 in 18 seasons with the Sooners. He made a bowl game every year and was the longest-tenured active coach in college football.