Joe Jon Finley Takes Over Play Calling For OU

Earlier this week, University of Oklahoma head football coach Brent Venables announced he had made an offensive coaching change.

Venables said he relieved Seth Littrell of his offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach duties. On an interim basis, Joe Jon Finley will continue his role as co-offensive coordinator, taking on primary play-calling responsibilities, with current senior offensive analyst Kevin Johns being elevated to co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

"Seth is an all-time great Sooner," said Venables. "He has a deep love for this university and football program, and has poured his heart and soul into both. Despite that, our performance as an offense this season has not at all lived up to the OU standard and I felt a change was necessary now.

"The leadership role Joe Jon plays on our team is critical. He has the confidence of our locker room and coaching staff, and I'm thankful to him for taking on this expanded role in the middle of the season. Kevin joined our staff last spring as an offensive analyst after serving as an offensive coordinator for over a decade. He has a wealth of experience coordinating offenses and coaching quarterbacks, and I'm looking forward to the fresh approach he'll bring and the bigger role he'll play in offensive game-planning. I'm confident Joe Jon, Kevin and the rest of the offensive staff will work tirelessly to put our players in positions to succeed and make us more effective on that side of the ball."

Finley, a former OU player and graduate assistant, returned to the Sooners in 2021 as assistant head coach for offense and tight ends and H-backs coach. After serving as tight ends coach the last two seasons, he was promoted to co-offensive coordinator last November.

The Sooners (4-3 overall, 1-3 SEC) play at No. 18/18 Ole Miss (5-2, 1-2) on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT.