Oklahoma OC Ben Arbuckle discusses his passion for coaching
Oklahoma OC Ben Arbuckle discusses his passion for coaching
When Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables hired Ben Arbuckle to be his new offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach, he took a chance on a young 29-year-old who has never coached in the Southeastern Conference or the Power Four. Arbuckle takes on the play-calling duties for OU's offense in what will be just his fourth season calling the shots at the collegiate level.
Arbuckle is tasked with rebuilding an offense that sunk to lows last year under the direction of Seth Littrell, Joe Jon Finley, and Kevin Johns. With what is likely the toughest schedule in America awaiting the Sooners in the SEC in 2025, it's a tall order for the former Washington State OC.
But earlier this week, OU fans got a glimpse into the way Arbuckle leads the way for his new players. Arbuckle was asked by Caleb Kelly on Sooner Sports talk about the passion he coaches with.
"If I expect these players that I get to coach to run around with some juice, with some energy, and have a high sense of urgency and be extremely detail-oriented when we're at practice, well, I better be the same way, I better be practicing what I preach," Arbuckle said. "Any chance I get to get in front of our awesome players we have at Oklahoma, I want them to know that they're gonna have a coach who's gonna fly around, who's gonna care, who's going to bring the energy, and love being there probably more than they love being there. I want that to spew off into them and everything. So that's where that energy comes from."
The tall task is made easier by the transfer portal addition of quarterback John Mateer, who started for Arbuckle in Pullman last season and led the FBS in total touchdowns. That duo holds the fate of the offense, possibly the entire season, and perhaps even Venables' head coaching career in their hands this year. Oklahoma is looking for an offense that can play complimentary football with the Sooners' defense.
Arbuckle brings his youth, a much-needed new voice and passionate energy to his new role leading the Oklahoma offense. As the Sooners look to bounce back in a crucial 2025 season, all eyes will be on how that side of the ball does against the toughest conference in the country.
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