Oklahoma adds Roy Manning, Brian Odom to defensive staff
NORMAN — Lincoln Riley’s defensive staff continues to take shape with Tuesday’s hiring of UCLA’s Roy Manning as the Sooners’ cornerbacks coach.
In addition to Manning’s hiring, the Sooners also officially announced the hiring of Brian Odom as outside linebackers coach Tuesday night.
Manning spent last season as UCLA’s outside linebackers and special teams coach after working with Sooners defensive coordinator Alex Grinch at Washington State during the 2015-17 seasons. Manning was the Cougars’ outside linebackers coach.
“Roy has proven to be one of the most dynamic recruiters in the country,” Riley said in a release. “He’s got excellent experience at several great football programs, and has strong recruiting ties all over the place. He’s coached multiple positions, has coached on both sides of the ball and has been a special teams coordinator.”
Manning, a former Michigan linebacker, played three seasons in the NFL before moving on to coaching.
He has previous experience coaching corners, handling the position with Michigan in 2014.
Manning’s hire likely means Grinch will coach the safeties for the Sooners. Oklahoma’s secondary hasn’t been split coaching-wise since 2014 when defensive coordinator Mike Stoops coached safeties while Bobby Jack Wright handled cornerbacks. Since then, Kerry Cooks has coached Oklahoma’s secondary.
“I couldn’t be more excited to link back up with Coach Grinch,” Manning said. “He’s as good a defensive coordinator as there is — as a motivator and as a teacher. And at the end of the day, stats don’t lie. What he was able to do at Washington State over three years is unbelievable. I’m excited for him and his family, and I know the Oklahoma football family will be extremely excited when they see what we’re going to bring on defense.”