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On hiring a new OC, Strong would love to pull a Stoops
Tulsa coach Philip Montgomery took over the Golden Hurricane program following the 2014 season after a long run as Baylor coach Art Briles' offensive coordinator. Montgomery has known his co-offensive coordinator, Sterlin Gilbert, since the two were on Briles' staff at Houston a decade ago.
Montgomery and Gilbert teamed up this season to produce an explosive Tulsa offense that averaged more than 500 yards a game. And now Gilbert, a Texas native who made a name for himself running innovative offenses at Texas high schools, is the leading candidate to become the Texas Longhorns' next offensive coordinator.
Montgomery confirmed to the Tulsa World that Gilbert was in Austin on Wednesday to talk with Longhorns coach Charlie Strong. Gilbert emerged as Texas' top candidate after TCU co-offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie turned down an offer of around $1 million a year to become Texas' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Montgomery acknowledged that he could soon be losing a top assistant.
"He has a vital role in what we do," Montgomery told Kelly Hines of theTulsa World. "Obviously, I would love for him to stay here. He's part of this staff and part of this family. We'll see how it all plays out."
Montgomery said he makes the calls on game day, but says Gilbert, 37, is an integral part in developing the overall game plan.
"He has an important role in what we do and he’s been integral in us coming in and putting in our system,” Montgomery told Hines. “Game day, obviously I still call everything, but we all bounce ideas off each other and everybody has input. ... When in that room and we’re game-planning, we’re all involved in it.”
It's evident by the two candidates Strong has talked to that he wants to bring a spread offense to Texas. Cumbie, along with co-offensive coordinator Doug Meacham, instantly transformed TCU's traditional offense into an explosive "Air Raid" attack when they were hired prior to the 2014 season. Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops hired former East Carolina offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley after last season to implement his version of the Air Raid. With the emergence of quarterback Baker Mayfield, the Sooners won the Big 12 championship and earned a berth in the College Football Playoff.
Baylor, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and West Virginia all run versions of a spread passing attack.
Asked if he is aware of a timeline regarding Gilbert's status, Montgomery told Hines, "If it will happen, it will happen fast, one way or another.”
