In a surprising turn of events, Ben Arbuckle, the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Washington State University, has announced his departure to join the University of Oklahoma in the same capacity. This move has sent ripples through the college football community, especially among the Sooners’ fan base.
Arbuckle, who began his coaching career as an offensive quality control assistant at Houston Baptist University, has quickly risen through the coaching ranks. His tenure at Western Kentucky University as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach saw the team’s offense finish sixth nationally in yards per game and first in total passing yards in 2022. At Washington State, Arbuckle continued his upward trajectory, leading an offense that finished No. 12 nationally in scoring and No. 22 in total offense. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/42743274/sources-oklahoma-hires-ben-arbuckle-offensive-coordinator?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Oklahoma’s head coach, Brent Venables, expressed his enthusiasm about the new addition, stating, “In Arbuckle, Oklahoma gets a precocious offensive playcaller who previously served as the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Western Kentucky.”
Arbuckle’s coaching philosophy emphasizes adaptability, tailoring his offensive strategies to the strengths of his personnel. He remarked, “I’ve always played to the strength of my personnel. The personnel drives the scheme.”
This strategic hire comes as Oklahoma aims to revitalize its offense after a challenging season in the Southeastern Conference, where the team finished 15th out of 16 in both scoring and total offense. Arbuckle replaces Seth Littrell, who was dismissed in late October following a 2-6 SEC record and a 6-6 overall finish.
Arbuckle’s immediate focus will be on coaching Oklahoma’s quarterbacks during the upcoming Armed Forces Bowl against Navy. This involvement provides him with an opportunity to develop relationships with his new players and staff ahead of the next season. Venables highlighted the importance of this transition, stating, “Probably the most important piece of this transition is his ability to start to develop relationships.
As Arbuckle steps into his role at Oklahoma, the Sooners’ community remains optimistic that his innovative approach and proven track record will usher in a new era of offensive success.
