View source for Bob Stoops

{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1960)}}
{{pp-pc1|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
|name=Bob Stoops
|image=BobStoops.jpg
|image_size=
|alt=
|caption= Stoops in 2021
|current_team=
|position=Head coach
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1960|9|9}}
|birth_place=[[Youngstown, Ohio]], U.S.
|death_date=
|death_place=
|high_school=[[Cardinal Mooney High School (Ohio)|Youngstown (OH) Cardinal Mooney]]
|college=[[Iowa Hawkeyes football|Iowa]] (1979–1982)
|undraftedyear=1983
|pastcoaching=
* [[Iowa Hawkeyes football|Iowa]] (1983–1984) <br>Graduate assistant
* Iowa (1985–1987) <br>Assistant
* [[Kent State Golden Flashes football|Kent State]]  (1988) <br>Assistant
* [[Kansas State Wildcats football|Kansas State]] (1989–1990) <br>Defensive backs coach
* Kansas State (1991–1995)<br>Co-defensive coordinator
* [[Florida Gators football|Florida]] (1996–1998)<br>Defensive coordinator / assistant head coach
* [[Oklahoma Sooners football|Oklahoma]] (1999–2016)<br>Head coach
* [[Arlington Renegades|Dallas Renegades]] (2020)<br>Head coach & general manager
* Oklahoma (2021)<br>Interim head coach
* Arlington Renegades ({{XFL Year|2023}}–{{UFL Year|2025}})<br>Head coach
|highlights=* [[XFL (2020)|XFL]] champion ([[2023 XFL Championship Game|2023]])
* [[College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS|National champion]] ([[2001 Orange Bowl|2000]])
* 10× [[Big 12 Conference|Big 12]] champion (2000, 2002, 2004, 2006–2008, 2010, 2012, 2015–2016)
* 8× Big 12 South champion (2000, 2002–2004, 2006–2008, 2010)            
* 2× [[Walter Camp Coach of the Year]] (2000, 2003)
* [[Paul "Bear" Bryant Award]] (2000)
* [[The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award]] (2000)
* [[George Munger Award]] (2000)
* [[Associated Press College Football Coach of the Year Award|AP Coach of the Year]] (2000)
* 6× [[Big 12 Conference football individual awards#Coach of the Year|Big 12 Coach of the Year]] (2000, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2015–2016)
* [[Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award]] (2003)
* [[Touchdown Club of Columbus#Woody Hayes Trophy|Woody Hayes Trophy Coach of the Year]] (2000)
* [[Disney's Wide World of Sports Spirit Award]] (2014)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://disneysportsnews.com/releases/2014/11/17/oklahoma-sooners-bob-stoops-and-sterling-shepard-to-accept-2014-disney-sports-spirit-award/|title=Oklahoma Sooners' Bob Stoops and Sterling Shepard to Accept 2014 Disney Sports Spirit Award}}</ref>
* First-team [[List of All-Big Ten Conference football teams|All-Big Ten]] ([[1982 All-Big Ten Conference football team|1982]])
|regular_record= NCAA {{Winning percentage|191|48|record=y}}<br>XFL  {{Winning percentage|6|9|record=y}}<br>UFL  {{Winning percentage|8|12|record=y}}
|playoff_record=XFL {{Winning percentage|2|0|record=y}}
|overall_record= NCAA {{Winning percentage|191|48|record=y}}<br>XFL  {{Winning percentage|8|9|record=y}}<br>UFL  {{Winning percentage|8|12|record=y}}
|pfrcoach=
|CollegeHOF=2479
}}
'''Robert Anthony Stoops''' (born September 9, 1960) is an American former [[American football|football]] coach who was the head football coach at the [[University of Oklahoma]] from 1999 through the 2016 season, and on an interim basis during the [[2021 Alamo Bowl]]. He led the [[Oklahoma Sooners football|Oklahoma Sooners]] to a record of 191–48 over his career. His [[2000 Oklahoma Sooners football team]] won the [[2001 Orange Bowl]], which served as the [[BCS National Championship Game]], and earned a consensus [[College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS|national championship]]. Stoops also was a head coach with the [[XFL (2020)|XFL]], coaching the Renegades in [[2020 XFL season|2020]], and from 2023 to 2025. Stoops' Renegades won the XFL Championship in [[2023 XFL Championship Game|2023]].

Stoops played [[college football]] at the [[University of Iowa]] as a [[defensive back]] from 1979 to 1982. Prior to his tenure at Oklahoma, he held various assistant coaching positions at the University of Iowa, [[Kent State University]], [[Kansas State University]], and the [[University of Florida]]. Stoops was awarded the [[Paul "Bear" Bryant Award]] in 2000 and the [[Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award]] in both 2000 and 2003.<ref>{{cite press release | title= Walter Camp's 2006 "Coach of the Year" | publisher= WalterCamp.org | url= http://www.waltercamp.org/newsrelease/release7.htm | url-status= dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071010021837/http://www.waltercamp.org/newsrelease/release7.htm | archive-date= October 10, 2007 }}</ref> Stoops has been nicknamed "Big Game Bob" by both supporters and detractors.<ref name="BigGameBob">{{cite web | url=http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/for-petes-sake/article52583025.html | title=Clemson beats Oklahoma, and the 'Big Game Bob' jokes soon follow | first=Pete | last=Grathoff | date=December 31, 2015 | work=The Kansas City Star | access-date=November 10, 2018}}</ref>

Stoops was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] as a coach in 2021.

==High school and college==
Stoops is one of six children born to Ron Sr. and Evelyn "Dee Dee" Stoops in [[Youngstown, Ohio]]. He is a 1978 graduate of [[Cardinal Mooney High School (Youngstown, Ohio)|Cardinal Mooney High School]], where his father was the long-time defensive coordinator of the football team. Bob and his three brothers (Ron Jr., [[Mike Stoops|Mike]], and [[Mark Stoops|Mark]]) were all coached by Ron Sr. at Mooney. During a game in 1988 against the team coached by Ron Jr., Ron Sr. began experiencing chest pains. He was placed in an ambulance following the game and died en route to the hospital.<ref>{{cite news | title=College Football Preview 2004; A Family of Coaches Has Followed Its Leader | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/29/sports/college-football-preview-2004-a-family-of-coaches-has-followed-its-leader.html | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=August 29, 2004 | access-date=October 18, 2007 | first=Pete | last=Thamel |author-link=Pete Thamel }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Legend in the making/ National title vaults Stoops into Sooner elite | url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4191/is_20010828/ai_n9990550 | publisher=[[The Colorado Springs Gazette]] | date=August 28, 2001 | access-date=October 18, 2007 | first=John | last=Branch}}</ref>

While at Iowa, Stoops was a four-year starter, and one-time [[List of All-Big Ten Conference football teams|All-Big Ten]] selection at [[defensive back]] at the [[University of Iowa]]. He was named Team MVP in 1982.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/big10/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2007bigtenfbguide.pdf|title=2007 Big Ten Media Guide|pages=93, 100|access-date=July 11, 2008|archive-date=October 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026093428/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/big10/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2007bigtenfbguide.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Coaching career==
===Assistant coach===
After graduating with a marketing degree in 1983, Stoops began his coaching career as a volunteer coach and graduate assistant in the [[Iowa Hawkeyes]] program under [[Hayden Fry]]. He next was an assistant at [[Kent State University]] under [[Dick Crum (American football)|Dick Crum]] in 1988, and then joined the coaching staff at [[Kansas State University]] the following year. Stoops was named co-[[defensive coordinator]] at Kansas State under [[Bill Snyder]] in 1991 and assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator in 1995. During his tenure on the Wildcats staff, Stoops played a key role in their impressive turnaround, helping take what many considered to be the worst program in Division I-A to national contention. During his final four seasons there, Kansas State was 35–12 with three bowl appearances.

Stoops then left for the [[University of Florida]], serving three years as [[Steve Spurrier]]'s defensive coordinator. Hired after Florida allowed 62 points to Nebraska in the [[1996 Fiesta Bowl]],<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gatorzone.com/insidefootball/?sub=legacy&page=bowl | title=Gatorzone.com – Florida Gators Bowl Record | access-date=September 29, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808135303/http://gatorzone.com/insidefootball/?sub=legacy&page=bowl | archive-date=August 8, 2007 | url-status=dead }}</ref> he was granted authority over the Gators defense; the team responded by winning the national championship over Florida State in the 1997 Sugar Bowl.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gatorzone.com/insidefootball/?sub=legacy&page=sec_96 | title=Gatorzone.com – Florida Gators 1996 Season | access-date=September 29, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016221200/http://gatorzone.com/insidefootball/?sub=legacy&page=sec_96 | archive-date=October 16, 2007 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

Due to his success leading defenses at Kansas State and Florida, Stoops was mentioned as a future head coach.
===Oklahoma===

[[File:Bob Stoops Oklahoma Coach.jpg|thumb|right|Stoops paces the sideline in 2006]]

The [[University of Oklahoma]] named Stoops its head coach in 1999. OU won seven games in Stoops' first year, taking the [[Oklahoma Sooners football|Sooners]] to their first bowl game since the 1994 season.
[[File:OklahomaSooners-TulsaGoldenHurricane-2009-Stoops.jpg|thumb|left|Stoops in 2009]]
In his 18 years as head coach of the Sooners, Stoops had a combined record of 190–48 ({{winperc|190|48}}). On November 16, 2013, Stoops notched his 157th win as Oklahoma's head coach with a victory over Iowa State, tying him with [[Barry Switzer]] for the most wins in Sooners history.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=750323&SPID=127245&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=209310574 | title=Sooners Run Through Cyclones | author=Athletics Communications, University of Oklahoma | date=November 16, 2013}}</ref> A week later, on November 23, 2013, he surpassed Switzer's record with a 41–31 victory over Kansas State. Stoops accumulated a home winning streak of 39 consecutive games from 2005 to 2011. The streak was ended on October 22, 2011, when Texas Tech defeated Oklahoma 41–38. He also had the most wins of the decade of any BCS school with 110 (2000–2009). Along with Switzer, [[Bud Wilkinson]] and [[Bennie Owen]], he is one of four coaches to win over 100 games at the University of Oklahoma; no other college football program has had more than three coaches accomplish such a feat. Overall, Oklahoma was 4–6 in BCS games and 9–9 in bowl games under Stoops. Stoops, along with Bill Snyder of Kansas State, were among the first to use the JUCO systems of their respective states to help their programs progress.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}}

Stoops led the Sooners to the [[2001 Orange Bowl|2000 BCS National Championship]] and finished the season undefeated, outscoring thirteen opponents by a combined 481–194. His Oklahoma teams again earned the opportunity to play in the [[BCS National Championship Game]] in 2004, 2005 and 2009, losing to [[2003 LSU Tigers football team|LSU]], 21–14, in the [[2004 Sugar Bowl]], and to [[2004 USC Trojans football team|USC]], 55–19 in the [[2005 Orange Bowl]], and [[2008 Florida Gators football team|Florida]], 24–14, in the [[2009 BCS National Championship Game]]. Under Stoops, Oklahoma had four BCS National Championship Game appearances, a record shared with [[Florida State Seminoles football|Florida State]].

Stoops' teams finished the season ranked in the Top 10 of the polls for 11 of his 18 seasons, seven times finishing in the top five.

Stoops led his team to bowl games in each of his 18 years at Oklahoma, ten of which were [[Bowl Championship Series]] (BCS) bowls, including the [[Big 12 Conference]]'s first [[Rose Bowl Game|Rose Bowl]] victory as the Sooners upended [[2002 Washington State Cougars football team|Washington State]], 34–14, in the [[2003 Rose Bowl]]. With Oklahoma's victory over [[2013 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama]] at the [[2014 Sugar Bowl]], Stoops became the first and only coach to win all four BCS bowl games and a BCS National Championship.

Stoops' penchant for winning big games early in his career earned him the nickname "Big Game Bob", From 1999 to 2003, Oklahoma under Stoops was 18–2 (0.900) vs. ranked opponents and 3–1 (0.750) in bowl games, with one national title and three Big 12 titles.<ref name="BigGameBob" />

Late in the 2003 season, however, Bob's brother [[Mike Stoops]] left his position of defensive coordinator and associate head coach at Oklahoma to accept the head coaching job at Arizona. The Sooners promptly lost two games in a row against ranked teams after Mike's departure that season (a 35–7 loss against #13 Kansas State in the Big 12 Title Game, and a 21–14 loss to #3 LSU in the BCS National Title Game). Since then (2004–2016), Stoops' teams went 17–13 vs. ranked opponents, and 3–4 in Bowl Games with no National Titles (although they played for 3 more), and five Big 12 Titles. Stoops' teams did finish with two Heisman Trophy winners during this time, however, and two runners-up.

Under Stoops, the Sooners won ten Big 12 Conference championships, the most of any Big 12 team. Oklahoma is also the only Big 12 team to win back-to-back-to-back Big 12 championships. Stoops posted a 121-29 (.807) conference record during his career, and was named the Big 12 Coach of the Year six times.

In his 18 seasons as Sooners' head coach, Stoops was 11–7 against the [[Texas Longhorns football|Texas Longhorns]] in the [[Red River Rivalry]]. During a five-game winning streak in that rivalry from 2000 to 2004, his Sooners handed the Longhorns two of their worst defeats in school history, 63–14 in 2000<ref>{{cite news | title=Oklahoma vs. Texas | url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/scores100/100281/100281413.htm | work=USA Today | date=October 7, 2000}}</ref> and 65–13 in 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=232840251|title=Oklahoma vs. Texas - Box Score - October 11, 2003 - ESPN}}</ref> Since then, he led the team to additional large-margin wins of 55–17 in 2011<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=312810251|title=Oklahoma vs. Texas - Box Score - October 8, 2011 - ESPN}}</ref> and 63–21 in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=322870201|title=Texas vs. Oklahoma - Box Score - October 13, 2012 - ESPN}}</ref>

On July 11, 2007, Oklahoma was placed on probation for two years by the NCAA for a rules violation involving quarterback [[Rhett Bomar]] and offensive lineman JD Quinn, whom the university had previously suspended from the team due to the players' efforts to obtain payment for hours not worked.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://oklasoonersblog.blogspot.com/2006/11/bomar-quinn-ineligible-for-remainder.html | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130628192333/http://oklasoonersblog.blogspot.com/2006/11/bomar-quinn-ineligible-for-remainder.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=June 28, 2013 | title=Bomar, Quinn Ineligible for Remainder 2006 and to Pay Money Back | date=November 1, 2006 | agency=Sooner News Wire | website=SoonersBlog.com }}</ref> While the students who violated the rules were reinstated by the NCAA and allowed to play for other schools, the university, which had self-reported the violations, was initially directed to vacate all wins during the 2005–06 season, which included a 17–14 win over the [[University of Oregon]] in the [[Holiday Bowl]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/PressArchive/2007/Infractions/NCAA%2BDivision%2BI%2BCommittee%2Bon%2BInfractions%2BPenalizes%2BUniversity%2Bof%2BOklahoma.html | title=NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions Penalizes University of Oklahoma | date=July 11, 2007 | publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association | access-date=November 10, 2007}}</ref> Oklahoma appealed the NCAA's ruling of a "failure to monitor" the employment of players in the program, as well as a reduction in scholarships and probation lasting until May 2010.<ref name="appeal">{{cite news | title=OU to Appeal NCAA Decision| publisher=OU Athletic Department | date=July 11, 2007 | access-date=July 11, 2007 | url=http://soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/071107aaa.html| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070713174815/http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/071107aaa.html | archive-date=July 13, 2007 }}</ref> On February 22, 2008, the NCAA reversed part of the decision and reinstated the vacated wins.<ref>{{cite news | title=NCAA gives OU back its wins for 2005 season | work=The Oklahoman | date=February 22, 2008 | access-date=February 22, 2008 | url=http://newsok.com/article/3207494/1203698887}}</ref>

Stoops' [[2008 Oklahoma Sooners football team|2008 team]] went down in the history books as the highest scoring team in college football history, scoring a total of 716 points, averaging 51 points per game. Over five consecutive games, the Sooners scored 60 points or more, another record (in the game prior to the streak, the Sooners scored 58 points). After a four-week layoff, the offense was held in check against the nation's best defense of the [[2008 Florida Gators football team|Florida Gators]] in the [[2009 BCS National Championship Game|National Championship game]], scoring only 14 points and committing two turnovers near the Florida goal line. The Sooners were without one of their star offensive playmakers in [[DeMarco Murray]], who sat out with an injury.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://oklasoonersblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/murray-to-miss-bcs-championship.html | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130628192250/http://oklasoonersblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/murray-to-miss-bcs-championship.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=June 28, 2013 | title=Murray to Miss BCS Championship | date=December 16, 2008 | agency=Sooner News Wire | website=SoonesBlog.com }}</ref> However, the Sooners' 2008 defense, which was much maligned during the season for allowing a Stoops'-worst 25 points per game average, held the Florida Gators' high-powered [[Tim Tebow]]-led offense to only 24 points, 21 points below their season average.

Stoops' success at Oklahoma made him the frequent subject of head coach searches by NFL teams and college programs alike, which he repeatedly turned down.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/99945-will-oklahomas-bob-stoops-become-the-denver-broncos-next-head-coach|title=Will Oklahoma's Bob Stoops Become the Denver Broncos Next Head Coach?|author=Ron Knabenbauer|publisher=Bleacher Report, Inc. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. |access-date=January 26, 2021}}</ref> He was reportedly the top-paid coach in Division I-A football with annual compensation in excess of $3 million until [[Nick Saban]] was signed by the [[University of Alabama]] for $4 million per year in 2007. However, Stoops did receive a "longevity bonus" of $3 million at the end of the 2008 season (his 10th), making his annual salary in 2008 approximately $6.1 million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|6.1|2008|r=1}}&nbsp;million in {{Inflation-year|US}}) .<ref>{{cite web | url=http://oklasoonersblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/stoops-cashes-in.html | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130628192630/http://oklasoonersblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/stoops-cashes-in.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=June 28, 2013 | title=Bob Stoops Cashes In | date=January 1, 2009 | agency=Sooner News Wire | website=SoonesBlog.com }}</ref>

In the [[2012 Oklahoma Sooners football team|2012 season]], he led the Sooners back to the top 25 and went to the [[2013 Cotton Bowl Classic|Cotton Bowl]], losing to Heisman Trophy-winning [[Johnny Manziel]] and the [[2012 Texas A&M Aggies football team|Texas A&M Aggies]], 41–13. In his career at Oklahoma, several of Stoops' assistants became head coaches at other Division I-A programs, including his brother [[Mike Stoops]] ([[Arizona Wildcats football|Arizona]]), [[Mark Mangino]] ([[Kansas Jayhawks football|Kansas]]), [[Mike Leach (American football coach)|Mike Leach]] ([[Texas Tech Red Raiders football|Texas Tech]], [[Washington State Cougars football|Washington State]] and [[Mississippi State Bulldogs football|Mississippi State]]), [[Chuck Long]] ([[San Diego State Aztecs football|San Diego State]]), [[Bo Pelini]] ([[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|Nebraska]] and [[Youngstown State Penguins football|Youngstown State]]), [[Kevin Sumlin]] ([[Texas A&M Aggies football|Texas A&M]]), [[Kevin R. Wilson|Kevin Wilson]] ([[Indiana Hoosiers football|Indiana]]), and his eventual successor, [[Lincoln Riley]] ([[USC Trojans football|USC]], [[Oklahoma Sooners football|Oklahoma]]).

Stoops is the only head coach in the BCS era to have won the [[Rose Bowl Game|Rose Bowl]], [[Orange Bowl]], [[Fiesta Bowl]], and [[Sugar Bowl]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/little-known-qb-lifts-oklahoma-past-bama/2159447/ | title=Little-known QB lifts Oklahoma past 'Bama | date=January 3, 2014 | work=Tampa Bay Times | agency=Times wires}}</ref>

On June 7, 2017, Stoops announced his retirement from college coaching. He was succeeded by [[Lincoln Riley]] as Oklahoma's head football coach.<ref name="auto">{{cite news | title=Bob Stoops retires after 18 seasons with Oklahoma, Lincoln Riley to take over | url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/bob-stoops-retires-after-18-seasons-with-oklahoma-lincoln-riley-to-take-over/ | first1=Adam | last1=Silverstein | first2=Ben | last2=Kercheval | work=CBS Sports | date=June 7, 2017 | access-date=November 10, 2018}}</ref>

Stoops will be inducted into the [[Rose Bowl Game#Rose Bowl Hall of Fame|Rose Bowl Hall of Fame]] as a member of the 2025 class.

===XFL===
On February 7, 2019, Stoops announced his plans to come out of retirement, as he was named head coach/general manager of the [[Dallas Renegades]] in the [[XFL (2020)|XFL]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/report-ex-oklahoma-coach-bob-stoops-will-join-dallas-xfl-franchise-as-coach-general-manager/|title=Report: Ex-Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops will join Dallas XFL franchise as coach, general manager|first=Jack|last=Crosby|work=CBS Sports|date=February 6, 2019|access-date=February 6, 2019}}</ref> He served in this role until the league ceased operations on April 14, 2020, due to bankruptcy stemming from the COVID-19 outbreak.<ref name="k281">{{cite web | last=Seifert | first=Kevin | title=XFL files for bankruptcy after suspending league | website=ESPN.com | date=2020-04-13 | url=https://www.espn.com/xfl/story/_/id/29030763/xfl-files-chapter-11-bankruptcy-suspending-operations | access-date=2024-12-24}}</ref> On April 13, 2022, Stoops re-signed with the XFL.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 13, 2022 |title=Phillips, Haslett, Stoops among XFL coach hires |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/33729603/wade-phillips-jim-haslett-bob-stoops-eight-xfl-coaching-hires |access-date=April 13, 2022 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> In 2023, the now-renamed [[Arlington Renegades]] finished second in the XFL South Division—despite the fact the Renegades finished the regular season with a sub-.500 (4–6) record—and advanced to the XFL playoffs. In the South Division championship game, the Renegades defeated the [[2023 Houston Roughnecks season|Houston Roughnecks]] to advance to the [[2023 XFL Championship Game|XFL Championship Game]], where the Renegades defeated the [[2023 DC Defenders season|DC Defenders]], 35–26.

===Oklahoma (interim)===
On November 28, 2021, Stoops was named interim head coach for Oklahoma's bowl game after Lincoln Riley took the [[USC Trojans football|USC Trojans]] head coaching job.<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 28, 2021|title=Bob Stoops issues statement after being named Oklahoma interim head coach|url=https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/sports/bob-stoops-issues-statement-after-being-named-oklahoma-interim-head-coach/|access-date=November 29, 2021|website=Saturday Down South|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>[https://www.katc.com/sports/bob-stoops-retakes-oklahoma-football-helm-after-riley-leaves-for-usc "Bob Stoops retakes Oklahoma football helm after Riley leaves for USC"] ''KATC''. Retrieved December 3, 2021.</ref> The head coaching position was filled by former Stoops assistant [[Brent Venables]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 5, 2021|title=Brent Venables hired as OU's next head football coach|url=https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-head-football-coach-hired/38404180/|access-date=December 5, 2021|website=KOCO 5 News|language=en-US}}</ref> Stoops coached the Sooners in the [[2021 Alamo Bowl]]; the Sooners won 47–32.

== Retirement ==
On December 15, 2025, Stoops announced his retirement from coaching.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Former OU football coach Bob Stoops retires from UFL's Dallas Renegades |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/college/sooners/2025/12/15/former-oklahoma-football-coach-bob-stoops-retiring-ufl-dallas-renegades/87773334007/ |access-date=2025-12-15 |website=The Oklahoman |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Stoops is married to Carol Stoops, a [[Mary Kay]] National Sales Director.<ref>{{ cite news | url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2005-07-22-stoops-success_x.htm | title=USATODAY.com – Notes: Stoops' wife has national title of her own | date=July 22, 2005 | access-date=October 29, 2007 | work=USA Today | first1=Luke | last1=Brietzke}}</ref> They have three children: a daughter, Mackenzie, who now attends the University of Oklahoma, and twin sons, Isaac and Drake. [[Drake Stoops]] plays wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Drake Stoops Stats, News, Bio|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/player/_/id/4360282/drake-stoops|access-date=December 2, 2020|website=ESPN|language=en}}</ref> Isaac Stoops has coached at the high school level as a wide receivers coach for Moore (OK) High School <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://usatodayhss.com/2019/bob-stoops-son-isaac-stoops-assistant-coach-moore|title=Bob Stoops' son Isaac joins Moore (Okla.) High as wide receivers coach |date=June 10, 2017 |access-date=January 10, 2019 |work=USA Today High School Sports |last=Smith |first=Cam}}</ref> and took a position as a volunteer analyst with the University of Oklahoma Sooners for the 2021-22 football season.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-oklahoman/20211227/281852941898653|title=Isaac Stoops creates his own lane at Oklahoma|date=December 27, 2021|access-date=January 10, 2019 |work=Pressreader The Oklahoman}}</ref>

Stoops' younger brother, [[Mike Stoops|Mike]], is the former defensive coordinator for the Sooners and was previously head football coach at the [[University of Arizona]]. He currently serves as inside linebackers coach for the football program of [[University of Kentucky]]. Another brother (the youngest), [[Mark Stoops|Mark]], became the head coach at the [[University of Kentucky]] in November 2012. Stoops' older brother, Ron Jr., was an assistant football coach at [[Youngstown State University]] in Youngstown, Ohio.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ysusports.com/sports/fball/coaches/Stoops_Ron|title=Ron Stoops - Assistant Football Coach/Director of High School Relations}}</ref>

Stoops remains close with [[Steve Spurrier]], his mentor from the University of Florida.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/college/steve-spurrier-offers-kind-words-tweet-retiring-friend-bob-stoops-oklahoma/wJMzyewcOSMUuuEkGCGJrI/|title=Steve Spurrier offers kind words in tweet to retiring friend Bob Stoops of Oklahoma |date=June 18, 2019 |access-date=January 8, 2022 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |last=Schoch |first=Matt}}</ref>

==Coaching tree==
Head coaches under whom Stoops served:
*[[Hayden Fry]]: [[Iowa Hawkeyes football|Iowa]] (1983–1987)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Kozlowski|first=Joe|date=February 9, 2020|title=How Did Bob Stoops End Up Coaching in the XFL?|url=https://www.sportscasting.com/how-did-bob-stoops-end-up-coaching-in-the-xfl/|access-date=February 2, 2021|website=Sportscasting {{!}} Pure Sports|language=en-US}}</ref>
*[[Dick Crum (American football)|Dick Crum]]: [[Kent State Golden Flashes football|Kent State]] (1988)<ref name=":0" />
*[[Bill Snyder]]: [[Kansas State Wildcats football|Kansas State]] (1989–1995)<ref name=":0" />
*[[Steve Spurrier]]: [[Florida Gators football|Florida]] (1996–1998)<ref name=":0" />

Assistant coaches under Stoops who became college or professional head coaches:<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Samuels|first=Doug|date=January 17, 2019|title=Report: Bob Stoops may be exploring a return to coaching|url=https://footballscoop.com/news/report-bob-stoops-may-exploring-return-coaching/|access-date=February 8, 2021|website=FootballScoop|language=en-US}}</ref>

* [[Mike Leach (American football coach)|Mike Leach]]: [[Texas Tech Red Raiders football|Texas Tech]] (2000–2009), [[Washington State Cougars football|Washington State]] (2012–2020), [[Mississippi State Bulldogs football|Mississippi State]] (2020–2022)<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Mike Leach - Head Football Coach - Staff Directory|url=https://hailstate.com/staff-directory/mike-leach/1585|access-date=February 2, 2021|website=Mississippi State|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=MSU Bulldog family, college football community mourns the death of Coach Mike Leach |url=https://hailstate.com/news/2022/12/13/football-msu-bulldog-family-college-football-community-mourns-the-death-of-coach-mike-leach.aspx |access-date=December 13, 2022 |website=Mississippi State |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Chuck Long]]: [[San Diego State Aztecs football|San Diego State]] (2006–2008)<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=St. Louis Names Chuck Long Offensive Coordinator|url=https://www.xfl.com/teams/st-louis/battlehawks-articles/chuck-long-new-offensive-coordinator|access-date=February 2, 2021|website=www.xfl.com|language=en}}</ref>
* [[Mark Mangino]]: [[Kansas Jayhawks football|Kansas]] (2002–2009)<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Mark Mangino {{!}} Assistant Football Coach|url=https://www.ysusports.com/sports/fball/coaches/Mangino-Mark?view=bio|access-date=February 2, 2021|website=Youngstown State|language=en}}</ref>
* [[Jay Norvell]]: [[Nevada Wolf Pack football|Nevada]] (2017–2021), [[Colorado State Rams football|Colorado State]] (2022–2025)<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bonagura |first=Kyle |date=December 6, 2021 |title=Colorado St. names Nevada's Norvell head coach |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32804699/source-colorado-state-rams-hire-nevada-wolf-pack-jay-norvell-next-head-coach |access-date=December 7, 2021 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> 
* [[Bo Pelini]]: [[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|Nebraska]] (2003, 2008–2014), [[Youngstown State Penguins football|Youngstown State]] (2015–2019)<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Head Football Coach Bo Pelini|url=https://www.ysusports.com/sports/fball/coaches/pelini-bo?view=bio|access-date=February 2, 2021|website=Youngstown State|language=en}}</ref>
* [[Mike Stoops]]: [[Arizona Wildcats football|Arizona]] (2004–2011)<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=January 30, 2021|title=Mike Stoops hired as defensive coordinator at FAU {{!}} Kentucky Sports Radio|url=https://kentuckysportsradio.com/football-2/mike-stoops-hired-as-defensive-coordinator-at-fau/|access-date=February 2, 2021|language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Kevin Sumlin]]: [[Houston Cougars football|Houston]] (2008–2011), [[Texas A&M Aggies football|Texas A&M]] (2012–2017), [[Arizona Wildcats football|Arizona]] (2018–2020)<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=January 15, 2018|title=University of Arizona hires Kevin Sumlin as head football coach|url=https://arizonasports.com/story/1370744/arizona-hires-kevin-sumlin-as-next-head-coach/|access-date=February 2, 2021|website=Arizona Sports}}</ref>
* [[Kevin Wilson (American football)|Kevin Wilson]]: [[Indiana Hoosiers football|Indiana]] (2011–2016), [[Tulsa Golden Hurricane football|Tulsa]] (2023–2024)<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Kevin Wilson - Football Coach|url=https://iuhoosiers.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/kevin-wilson/1154|access-date=February 2, 2021|website=Indiana University Athletics|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Tulsa Introduces Ohio State Offensive Coordinator Kevin Wilson as Head Football Coach |url=https://tulsahurricane.com/news/2022/12/6/tulsa-introduces-ohio-state-offensive-coordinator-kevin-wilson-as-head-football-coach |access-date=December 13, 2022 |website=Tulsa |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Lincoln Riley]]: [[Oklahoma Sooners football|Oklahoma]] (2017–2021), [[USC Trojans football|USC]] (2022–present)<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Trotter |first=Jake |author-link=Jake Trotter |date=June 20, 2017 |title=Oklahoma to pay coach Riley $3.1M in 1st year |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/19691337/lincoln-riley-make-31-million-first-year-coaching-oklahoma-sooners |access-date=February 2, 2021 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref>
* [[Josh Heupel]]: [[UCF Knights football|UCF]] (2018–2020), [[Tennessee Volunteers football|Tennessee]] (2021–present)<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Josh Heupel|url=https://utsports.com/staff-directory/josh-heupel/4003 |website=Tennessee Athletics |access-date=February 4, 2021}}</ref>
* [[Jonathan Hayes]]: [[St. Louis BattleHawks]] (2020)<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Jonathan Hayes Named XFL St. Louis Head Coach|url=https://www.xfl.com/articles/jonathan-hayes-named-xfl-st-louis-head-coach|access-date=February 2, 2021|website=www.xfl.com|language=en}}</ref>
* [[Brent Venables]]: [[Oklahoma Sooners football|Oklahoma]] (2022–present)
* [[Ryan Walters (American football)|Ryan Walters]]: [[Purdue Boilermakers football|Purdue]] (2023–2024)
* [[Jeff Lebby]]: [[Mississippi State Bulldogs football|Mississippi State]] (2024–present)

==Head coaching record==
===College===
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = both }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[Oklahoma Sooners football|Oklahoma Sooners]]
 | conf      = [[Big 12 Conference]]
 | startyear = 1999
 | endyear   = 2016
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[1999 NCAA Division I-A football season|1999]]
 | name         = [[1999 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]
 | overall      = 7–5
 | conference   = 5–3
 | confstanding = T–2nd {{Small|(South)}}
 | bowlname     = [[1999 Independence Bowl|Independence]]
 | bowloutcome  = L
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2000 NCAA Division I-A football season|2000]]
 | name         = [[2000 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]
 | overall      = 13–0
 | conference   = 8–0
 | confstanding = 1st {{Small|(South)}}
 | bowlname     = [[2001 Orange Bowl|Orange]]
 | bowloutcome  = W
 | ranking      = 1
 | ranking2     = 1
 | championship = national
 | bcsbowl      = yes
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2001 NCAA Division I-A football season|2001]]
 | name         = [[2001 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]
 | overall      = 11–2
 | conference   = 6–2
 | confstanding = 2nd {{Small|(South)}}
 | bowlname     = [[2002 Cotton Bowl Classic|Cotton]]
 | bowloutcome  = W
 | ranking      = 6
 | ranking2     = 6
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2002 NCAA Division I-A football season|2002]]
 | name         = [[2002 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]
 | overall      = 12–2
 | conference   = 6–2
 | confstanding = T–1st {{Small|(South)}}
 | bowlname     = [[2003 Rose Bowl|Rose]]
 | bowloutcome  = W
 | ranking      = 5
 | ranking2     = 5
 | championship = conference
 | bcsbowl      = yes
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2003 NCAA Division I-A football season|2003]]
 | name         = [[2003 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]
 | overall      = 12–2
 | conference   = 8–0
 | confstanding = 1st {{Small|(South)}}
 | bowlname     = [[2004 Sugar Bowl|Sugar]]
 | bowloutcome  = L
 | ranking      = 3
 | ranking2     = 3
 | championship = division
 | bcsbowl      = yes 
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2004 NCAA Division I-A football season|2004]]
 | name         = [[2004 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]
 | overall      = 12–1
 | conference   = 8–0
 | confstanding = 1st {{Small|(South)}}
 | bowlname     = [[2005 Orange Bowl|Orange]]
 | bowloutcome  = L
 | ranking      = 3
 | ranking2     = 3
 | championship = conference
 | bcsbowl      = yes
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2005 NCAA Division I-A football season|2005]]
 | name         = [[2005 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]
 | overall      = 8–4
 | conference   = 6–2
 | confstanding = T–2nd {{Small|(South)}}
 | bowlname     = [[2005 Holiday Bowl|Holiday]]
 | bowloutcome  = W
 | ranking      = 22
 | ranking2     = 22
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2006]]
 | name         = [[2006 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]
 | overall      = 11–3
 | conference   = 7–1
 | confstanding = 1st {{Small|(South)}}
 | bowlname     = [[2007 Fiesta Bowl|Fiesta]]
 | bowloutcome  = L
 | ranking      = 11
 | ranking2     = 11
 | championship = conference
 | bcsbowl      = yes 
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2007]]
 | name         = [[2007 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]
 | overall      = 11–3
 | conference   = 6–2
 | confstanding = 1st {{Small|(South)}}
 | bowlname     = [[2008 Fiesta Bowl|Fiesta]]
 | bowloutcome  = L
 | ranking      = 8
 | ranking2     = 8
 | championship = conference
 | bcsbowl      = yes 
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2008]]
 | name         = [[2008 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]
 | overall      = 12–2
 | conference   = 7–1
 | confstanding = T–1st {{Small|(South)}}
 | bowlname     =[[2009 BCS National Championship Game|BCS NCG]]
 | bowloutcome  = L
 | ranking      = 5
 | ranking2     = 5
 | championship = conference
 | bcsbowl      = yes 
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2009]]
 | name         = [[2009 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]
 | overall      = 8–5
 | conference   = 5–3
 | confstanding = T–3rd {{Small|(South)}}
 | bowlname     = [[2009 Sun Bowl|Sun]]
 | bowloutcome  = W
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2010]]
 | name         = [[2010 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]
 | overall      = 12–2
 | conference   = 6–2
 | confstanding = T–1st {{Small|(South)}}
 | bowlname     = [[2011 Fiesta Bowl|Fiesta]]
 | bowloutcome  = W
 | ranking      = 6
 | ranking2     = 6
 | championship = conference
 | bcsbowl      = yes 
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2011]]
 | name         = [[2011 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]
 | overall      = 10–3
 | conference   = 6–3
 | confstanding = T–3rd
 | bowlname     = [[2011 Insight Bowl|Insight]]
 | bowloutcome  = W
 | ranking      = 15
 | ranking2     = 16
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2012]]
 | name         = [[2012 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]
 | overall      = 10–3
 | conference   = 8–1
 | confstanding = T–1st
 | bowlname     = [[2013 Cotton Bowl Classic|Cotton]]
 | bowloutcome  = L
 | ranking      = 15
 | ranking2     = 15
 | championship = conference
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2013]]
 | name         = [[2013 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]
 | overall      = 11–2
 | conference   = 7–2
 | confstanding = T–2nd
 | bowlname     = [[2014 Sugar Bowl|Sugar]]
 | bowloutcome  = W
 | ranking      = 6
 | ranking2     = 6 
 | bcsbowl      = yes 
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2014]]
 | name         = [[2014 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]
 | overall      = 8–5
 | conference   = 5–4
 | confstanding = T–4th
 | bowlname     = [[2014 Russell Athletic Bowl|Russell Athletic]]
 | bowloutcome  = L
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2015]]
 | name         = [[2015 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]
 | overall      = 11–2
 | conference   = 8–1
 | confstanding = 1st
 | bowlname     = [[2015 Orange Bowl|Orange]]
 | bowloutcome  = L
 | ranking      = 5
 | ranking2     = 5
 | championship = conference
 | bcsbowl      = yes
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2016]]
 | name         = [[2016 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]
 | overall      = 11–2
 | conference   = 9–0
 | confstanding = 1st
 | bowlname     = [[2017 Sugar Bowl|Sugar]]
 | bowloutcome  = W
 | ranking      = 3
 | ranking2     = 5 
 | championship = conference
 | bcsbowl      = yes
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[Oklahoma Sooners football|Oklahoma Sooners]]
 | conf      = [[Big 12 Conference]]
 | startyear = 2021
 | endyear   = single
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | year         = [[2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2021]]
 | name         = [[2021 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]
 | overall      = 1–0
 | conference   = 
 | bowlname     = [[2021 Alamo Bowl|Alamo]]{{efn|group=record|Stoops returned to coach the bowl game after Lincoln Riley departed for USC.}}
 | bowloutcome  = W
 | ranking      = 10
 | ranking2     = 10
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Oklahoma
 | overall    = 191–48
 | confrecord = 121–29
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
 | overall   = 191–48
 | yearstart = 1999
 | yearend   = 2016
 | poll      = two
}}
{{notelist|group=record}}

===XFL/UFL===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|League 
! rowspan="2" |Team!! rowspan="2" |Year !! colspan="4"|Regular season !! colspan="4"|Postseason
|-
!Won!!Lost!!Win %!!Finish!! Won !! Lost !! Win % !! Result
|-<!-- !style="background:"-->
![[XFL (2020–2023)|XFL]]
![[2020 Dallas Renegades season|DAL]]||[[2020 XFL season|2020]]
||2||3||{{winpct|2|3}}||Season canceled|| — || — || — || — 
|-! style="background:#FDE910;"
![[XFL (2020–2023)|XFL]]
![[2023 Arlington Renegades season|ARL]]||[[2023 XFL season|2023]]
||4||6||{{winpct|4|6}}|| 2nd XFL South || 2 || 0 || {{winpct|2|0}} || [[2023 XFL Championship Game|XFL Champion]]
|-
![[United Football League (2024)|UFL]]
![[2024 Arlington Renegades season|ARL]]
![[2024 UFL season|2024]]
|3
|7
|.300
| 4th XFL Conference
| -
| -
| -
| -
|-
![[United Football League (2024)|UFL]]
![[2025 Arlington Renegades season|ARL]]
![[2025 UFL season|2025]]
|5
|5
|.500
| 3rd XFL Conference
| -
| -
| -
| -
|-
! colspan="3" |Total||14||21||{{winpct|14|21}}|| || 2 || 0 || {{winpct|2|0}} || 
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071007165328/http://soonersports.com/school-bio/bob_stoops.html Oklahoma profile]
* {{College Football HoF|2479}}
* {{Rivals.com coach|79}}

{{UFL head coach navbox}}
{{Navboxes
|list =
{{Oklahoma Sooners football coach navbox}}
{{Dallas Renegades head coaches}}
{{1996 Florida Gators football navbox}}
{{2000 Oklahoma Sooners football navbox}}
{{2023 Arlington Renegades}}
{{AFCA Coach of the Year}}
{{Associated Press College Football Coach of the Year Award}}
{{Bobby Dodd Award winners}}
{{Bear Bryant Award}}
{{Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year}}
{{George Munger Award}}
{{Home Depot Coach of the Year}}
{{Walter Camp Coach of the Year}}
{{Paul "Bear" Bryant Award Lifetime Achievement Award}}
{{Big 12 Conference football Coach of the Year navbox}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stoops, Bob}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Dallas Renegades coaches]]
[[Category:Arlington Renegades head coaches]]
[[Category:Florida Gators football coaches]]
[[Category:American football cornerbacks]]
[[Category:Iowa Hawkeyes football players]]
[[Category:Iowa Hawkeyes football coaches]]
[[Category:Kansas State Wildcats football coaches]]
[[Category:Oklahoma Sooners football coaches]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Coaches of American football from Ohio]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Youngstown, Ohio]]
[[Category:Catholics from Ohio]]