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OU Hires Deland McCullough as RB coach
Posted on 2/18/26 at 7:44 am
Posted on 2/18/26 at 7:44 am
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If tweet fails to load, click here. He’s won a Super Bowl with the Chiefs and coached in college at Notre Dame, USC and Indiana. McCullough was last in college at Notre Dame, where he served as the associate head coach in 2024. He also coached Jeremiyah Love at the school.
Despite McCullough's two sons both transferring out of the program, the family has kept a good relationship with OU. McCullough thinks very highly of Brent Venables. And he worked as Kevin Wilson's running backs coach for six years at Indiana.
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Posted on 2/18/26 at 9:46 am to OU Guy
Crazy, almost unbelievable story about how he learned about his biological dad.
To boil it down: Deland was put up for adoption by his biological mother. She did not tell the biological father about the birth. Deland had a good upbringing by his adoptive parents, was recruited as a RB, and signed with Miami of Ohio due in large part because he was so impressed with the man who Deland's lead recruiter - RB coach Sherman Smith. Smith was a friend & mentor for Deland long after Smith left Miami to coach elsewhere and Deland's playing days were over. Smith gave Deland a coaching internship while he was coaching at Indiana, which jump-started his coaching career. Deland was searching for his biological dad at the time but he eventually learned his dad is Sherman Smith.
ESPN Article (long)
To boil it down: Deland was put up for adoption by his biological mother. She did not tell the biological father about the birth. Deland had a good upbringing by his adoptive parents, was recruited as a RB, and signed with Miami of Ohio due in large part because he was so impressed with the man who Deland's lead recruiter - RB coach Sherman Smith. Smith was a friend & mentor for Deland long after Smith left Miami to coach elsewhere and Deland's playing days were over. Smith gave Deland a coaching internship while he was coaching at Indiana, which jump-started his coaching career. Deland was searching for his biological dad at the time but he eventually learned his dad is Sherman Smith.
ESPN Article (long)
Posted on 2/18/26 at 10:49 am to OU Guy
I think that this is a great hire and we were very fortunate on timing and everything. He comes with obviously great credentials but also as a known commodity. He worked for Kevin Wilson for 6 years and got to know BV when BV was recruiting his sons a few years ago. Hard to imagine a better hire to hit the ground running. Tory, X, Hatton and other RBs have to be impressed and very optimistic. Can't wait to see the results.
Posted on 2/18/26 at 12:02 pm to 41
Posted on 2/18/26 at 12:13 pm to OU Guy
Oklahoma hasn't had a 1,000-yard rusher since 2022.
Since 2011, Deland McCullough has had a running back tally over 1k yards of offense 16(!) times.
Since 2011, Deland McCullough has had a running back tally over 1k yards of offense 16(!) times.
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