Sooners Hire Stanford Assistant To Coach D-Line

University of Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops named Diron Reynolds to his staff as defensive line coach Thursday. Reynolds most recently served at Stanford University following over a decade of coaching in the NFL ranks with Indianapolis, Miami and Minnesota.

“Diron is a great fit for our staff with his knowledge and ability to instruct the fundamentals we've been using in our defensive system,” said Stoops. “He's an excellent teacher who learned from respected coaches on both the college and NFL level.”

“I'm thrilled to join Coach Stoops and his staff at the University of Oklahoma,” Reynolds said. “I've always respected the great tradition of Oklahoma Football, and it's truly a blessing to join a team with such rich history and passionate fans. I can't wait to get to Norman to begin working with the staff and the talented student-athletes at Oklahoma.”

Reynolds spent the 2014 season as assistant defensive line coach for a Stanford squad that ranked third in the nation in total defense, permitting 282.4 yards per game. From 2009 to 2013, he served as the assistant defensive line coach of the Vikings as Minnesota led the league in sacks with 48.0 in 2009 and tied for the NFL lead with 50.0 in 2011.

He began his NFL tenure working for Tony Dungy and the Indianapolis Colts (2002-06), earning a Super Bowl XLI ring following the 2006 season. He then spent one season as defensive line coach for the Miami Dolphins.

Prior to joining the NFL ranks, Reynolds spent one year coaching defensive tackles at Indiana in 2001 prior to a four-year stint working under head coach Jim Caldwell at Wake Forest (1997-2000). After beginning his tenure with the Demon Deacons as a graduate assistant working with the defensive line, he tutored the club's outside linebackers for his final two seasons at his alma mater. He began his coaching career as an assistant at Brookland-Cayce High School in Cayce, S.C.

A native of Aiken, SC, Reynolds was a four-year letterwinner as a linebacker and special teams performer at Wake Forest, where he earned a degree in communication and a master's degree in liberal studies.

Reynolds' hiring is pending the approval of the University's Board of Regents.

 OU Spring Game Set

The Sooners also announced the annual Red-White Game would take place on Saturday, April 11 at 2 p.m. Tickets will be $5 and all seating will be general admission.