NORMAN, OK — The Oklahoma Sooners aren’t just filling vacancies; they’re upgrading the engine. Head coach Brent Venables made it official Sunday, announcing the hires of Deland McCullough as running backs coach and LaMar Morgan as cornerbacks coach. These moves come on the heels of losing DeMarco Murray to the Kansas City Chiefs and Jay Valai to the Buffalo Bills, a double-blow that many feared would stall Oklahoma’s recruiting and development momentum heading into the 2026 campaign.
The McCullough Factor: A Super Bowl Pedigree in Norman
Replacing a program legend like DeMarco Murray is a tall order, but Deland McCullough arrives with a resume that commands instant respect. McCullough isn’t just a college coach; he’s a developer of elite talent with a Super Bowl ring from his time with the Kansas City Chiefs (2018-2020). Most recently, he spent the 2025 season with the Las Vegas Raiders under Pete Carroll. His track record includes mentoring 1,000-yard rushers at almost every stop, including Audric Estimé (1,341 yards in 2023) and Jeremiyah Love (1,125 yards in 2024) during Notre Dame’s run to the national title game.
The connection here is personal, too. McCullough’s son, Dasan, played linebacker for Venables from 2023-24, giving the new RB coach an inside look at the culture in Norman long before he signed his contract. With Oklahoma failing to produce an 800-yard rusher since 2022, McCullough’s arrival is designed to jumpstart a ground game that averaged a lackluster 4.0 yards per carry last season.
LaMar Morgan: The Defensive Architect from Ann Arbor
While McCullough handles the offense, LaMar Morgan is tasked with maintaining the “No-Fly Zone.” Morgan joins the Sooners after two years at Michigan, where he served as the defensive pass game coordinator. In 2025, his Michigan secondary helped the Wolverines rank 16th nationally in scoring defense, consistently stifling elite Big Ten offenses. Morgan is known for a “fire and energy” coaching style that Venables highlighted as a key differentiator during the exhaustive search process.
Morgan fills the void left by Jay Valai, who joined the Bills’ staff in a move that shook the Sooners’ defensive room. With Oklahoma transitioning deeper into the SEC gauntlet, Morgan’s experience as a defensive coordinator at Louisiana-Lafayette—where he led a unit to 23 takeaways in a single season—provides Venables with another high-level play-caller on the sidelines. His ability to develop young talent like Zeke Berry into All-Big Ten performers suggests Oklahoma’s young secondary is in capable hands.
“Deland and LaMar separated from the pack with their extensive experience and their ability to teach. Both knocked it out of the park during the interview process. Our players will be the beneficiaries of their leadership, coaching, and development.”
— Brent Venables, Oklahoma Head Coach
SEC Implications: What’s Next for the Sooners
The timing of these hires is critical. With spring practices approaching, the Sooners need to integrate these new voices without losing the defensive identity Venables has fought to build. The departure of Valai and Murray to the NFL proves that Oklahoma is a “coaching factory,” but the ability to pull a coordinator-level talent from Michigan (Morgan) and an NFL veteran from the Raiders (McCullough) signals that OU remains a premier destination.
Expect the focus to shift immediately to the transfer portal and late-cycle recruiting. Both McCullough and Morgan are known as “closers” on the recruiting trail. If they can secure the current 2026 commitments and maybe flip a few blue-chip prospects, the Sooners will head into the spring with more than just new names—they’ll have a new sense of purpose.
