When Oklahoma needs a running backs coach, the stakes are unusually high.
This isn’t just about replacing a position coach. It’s about stabilizing an offensive identity. It’s about restoring balance. And most importantly, it’s about ensuring that one of the most tradition-rich positions in program history didn’t lose its edge at the exact moment the program is trying to win championships in the SEC.
In hiring Deland McCullough, Brent Venables didn’t just fill a vacancy. He made a statement.
Because McCullough isn’t simply a replacement for DeMarco Murray.
He’s a proven fixer, an elite developer, and one of the most respected running backs coaches in football — college or NFL.
Here are the most important things Oklahoma fans need to know about the man now responsible for reviving one of the Sooners’ most critical positions.
1. He’s One of the Most Proven Running Back Developers in Football
This isn’t projection. It’s production.
Since 2011, McCullough has coached 16 different 1,000-yard rushers. That’s not a fluke. That’s a pattern. And it tells you exactly what kind of impact he’s capable of having in Norman.
At multiple stops — including Indiana, USC, and Notre Dame — his running backs didn’t just produce. They improved. They developed. They became NFL players.
At Indiana, he helped develop Tevin Coleman and Jordan Howard into elite collegiate backs and eventual NFL contributors.
At Notre Dame, he oversaw one of the most productive rushing attacks in college football, helping transform Audric Estimé into an NFL-ready back and mentoring Jeremiyah Love, who emerged as one of the nation’s most explosive runners.
This matters because Oklahoma’s rushing attack in 2025 wasn’t dominant. It wasn’t consistent. And too often, it wasn’t reliable.
McCullough’s track record suggests that’s about to change.
2. He Brings Super Bowl Experience — and NFL Credibility
McCullough isn’t just a college coach.
He’s a Super Bowl champion.
While serving as running backs coach for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2018 to 2020, McCullough helped develop Kareem Hunt and Damien Williams into critical pieces of a championship offense.
That experience matters for two reasons.
First, it gives him instant credibility with players. He’s coached at the highest level of the sport. He understands what NFL-ready preparation looks like.
Second, it changes how recruits view Oklahoma.
Running backs want to know one thing above all else: can this coach get me to the NFL?
McCullough’s résumé answers that question immediately.
His most recent NFL experience came in 2025 with the Las Vegas Raiders, where he mentored rookie Ashton Jeanty. That means he arrives in Norman with fresh NFL perspective — not outdated theory.
He understands what the modern pro game demands.
And that knowledge translates directly to recruiting and player development.
3. He’s Not an Outsider — He Already Knows Oklahoma
This isn’t a cultural gamble.
McCullough already understands Oklahoma.
His connection to the program runs deeper than football. His sons, Dasan and Daeh McCullough, both played for the Sooners. He’s lived the program from the perspective of a coach and a parent.
That perspective matters more than people realize.
He understands the expectations. The pressure. The culture. The standard.
He’s not learning Oklahoma.
He’s joining something he already believes in.
His existing relationship with Brent Venables is equally important. Trust matters in staff construction, and Venables didn’t need to guess whether McCullough was the right cultural fit.
He already knew.
4. He’s a Recruiter With National Reach — and Elite Credibility
McCullough’s recruiting résumé is as impressive as his development record.
He’s successfully recruited elite players across multiple regions, including:
- Ohio
- Indiana
- Missouri
- Texas
- Mississippi
- National pipelines
At Notre Dame, he was instrumental in landing Jeremiyah Love, one of the most coveted backs in the country.
At Indiana, he helped produce some of the best recruiting classes in program history.
He doesn’t rely on hype. He relies on relationships.
McCullough is known for his honesty in recruiting — a trait that aligns perfectly with Venables’ culture-first philosophy.
Players trust him. Families trust him. High school coaches trust him.
That trust translates into commitments.
And in the SEC, recruiting elite running backs isn’t optional. It’s mandatory.
5. He’s Known as a “Fixer” — And Oklahoma Needs Exactly That
The Sooners’ run game in 2025 lacked consistency.
There were flashes. Explosive plays. Individual moments of brilliance.
But the overall production didn’t match Oklahoma’s championship expectations.
McCullough’s career suggests he’s uniquely equipped to fix that.
His backs don’t just produce explosive plays. They produce sustained efficiency.
They improve in:
- Vision
- Patience
- Ball security
- Pass protection
- Situational awareness
He develops complete running backs, not just ball carriers.
That distinction matters in modern offenses, especially in the SEC, where versatility is required.
6. His Coaching Philosophy Matches Venables’ Culture
McCullough isn’t just respected for what he teaches.
He’s respected for how he teaches it.
Before entering college coaching, he worked as a high school teacher, principal, and athletic director. That background shaped his approach to coaching.
He emphasizes mentorship, accountability, and personal growth.
Players describe him as demanding but deeply invested.
He doesn’t just develop football players.
He develops people.
That philosophy aligns perfectly with Venables’ culture, which emphasizes character as much as performance.
This wasn’t just a résumé fit.
It was a cultural fit.
7. He Inherits Talent — But Also Opportunity
Oklahoma’s running back room isn’t empty.
It’s talented.
But it hasn’t fully reached its potential.
McCullough arrives with an opportunity to elevate that room — not rebuild it from scratch.
His history suggests he can maximize what’s already there while improving future recruiting pipelines.
And his presence alone changes perception.
Recruits know who he is.
They know what he’s done.
They know what he produces.
8. His Story Makes Him One of the Most Unique Coaches in College Football
McCullough’s impact extends beyond football.
His personal story is one of the most remarkable in sports.
Adopted as an infant, he later discovered that his biological father was Sherman Smith — the very coach who had mentored him throughout his career.
That revelation became the subject of his memoir, Runs in the Family, and the documentary Show Me the Father.
It’s not just an interesting story.
It’s a reflection of who he is — a coach defined by relationships, loyalty, and mentorship.
Players connect with him because he understands identity, adversity, and growth.
He’s lived it.
Why This Hire Matters More Than It Might Seem
At first glance, hiring a running backs coach may not seem like a program-defining move.
But at Oklahoma, it is.
This is a program built on elite running backs — from Adrian Peterson to DeMarco Murray to Joe Mixon to Samaje Perine.
Restoring that standard matters.
And Deland McCullough’s résumé suggests he’s capable of doing exactly that.
He brings:
- NFL credibility
- Proven development
- Elite recruiting ability
- Cultural alignment
- Deep program familiarity
Most importantly, he brings results.
Oklahoma didn’t just hire a replacement.
They hired a difference-maker.
And if his track record holds true, Oklahoma’s run game — and perhaps its championship ceiling — just got significantly higher.
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