Stoops to stay at Oklahoma

Posted 6:23PM on Monday 7th January 2002 ( 23 years ago )

NORMAN, Okla.- Bob Stoops decided to stay put at Oklahoma, ending speculation that he would leave to coach Florida. Stoops met with Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley on Monday and told him of his decision. "Jeremy knew coming in, I felt strongly committed to our program, how strong and positive our program was, the way we're developing and where we're going with our program," Stoops said. Stoops said he did not renegotiate his contract with Oklahoma, and denied a report that he would get a raise to continue coaching for the Sooners. Speculation that Stoops might be interested in coaching at Florida began shortly after Friday's announcement that Steve Spurrier was resigning as coach of the Florida Gators. Stoops served as Florida's defensive coordinator under Spurrier from 1996 to 1998 before becoming head coach at Oklahoma. Stoops met briefly at his home Monday morning with Foley. "I'm out here just to talk to Bobby and go from there," Foley said. He declined comment after returning to the airport about 90 minutes later for a flight to Colorado, where he met with Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan. Shanahan said Sunday he would talk to Florida about the vacancy only if he were contacted by Foley, a close friend. Oklahoma won the 2000 national championship and was in the hunt again this year before winding up 11-2. The Sooners are 31-7 under Stoops after not cracking the .500 mark in the five years before he arrived. A contract extension approved last summer made him a $2 million man. Only Spurrier, at $2.1 million, was making more among college coaches. Stoops has a condominium in Crescent Beach, Fla., where he visits in the late spring and early summer.

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