Oklahoma's Stoops retires

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Like a well-executed blitz, Bob Stoops shocked the college football world.

Oklahoma's football coach abruptly announced his retirement Wednesday after leading the Sooners to 10 conference championships and a national title in 18 seasons.

The 56-year-old Stoops was the longest-tenured active coach in major college football, taking the job at Oklahoma a day before Kirk Ferentz started at Iowa. He went 190-48 (.798) at Oklahoma in his only college head-coaching job, giving him more victories than Sooners greats Barry Switzer (157) and Bud Wilkinson (145).

With his success and the school's winning tradition came pressure. Many in the restless fan base were frustrated that the Sooners hadn't won a national title since 2000, even though Stoops' teams played for three more national titles during his tenure.

Stoops will stay on as a special assistant to the athletic director.

Aside from that, he has an open mind about his future.

"I really don't have a plan exactly what I'm going to do," he said. "It's a little bit frightening, but I'm really a spiritual person, and I believe until you open yourself up to something, you don't know what the opportunities are that can come to you. So we'll see what can flow my way."

Stoops has heart disease, and his father, Ron, died in 1988 at age 54 of a heart attack suffered while coaching a high school game. Stoops said his health was not a factor in his decision, and reports that he was ill were false.