Report: OSU Offensive Line Coach Heading To Texas

Oklahoma State's coaching staff was delivered a sizable blow on Sunday with reports breaking that offensive line coach Joe Wickline is leaving after nine years in Stillwater.

And his destination won't make it any easier to swallow — Austin, Texas.

Despite turning down the Longhorns in 2011, as well as dismissing NFL opportunities to stay with Mike Gundy and Oklahoma State in years past, new Texas coach Charlie Strong was able to lure away inarguably one of the top position coaches in the country.

The production of Wickline's units at OSU is impossible to ignore.

His offensive lines have ranked in the top 20 in the nation in fewest sacks allowed every year since 2006 and the Cowboys have produced a first-team All-Big 12 running back every season from 2007-12, which is no doubt a product of his blocking schemes.

OSU also led the conference in rushing every year from 2006-09 he was largely responsible for a Cowboy offense that has ranked in the top 20 nationally in total yardage six times in the past eight years.

Wickline has also tutored two Big 12 offensive linemen of the year, with Russell Okung winning the honors in 2009 and Grant Garner in 2011. Eight of his offensive linemen have earned first-team all-conference honors since 2006.

Wickline, a 1983 Florida graduate, has coached 32 years at the collegiate level with his nine years at OSU being his longest run at any stop.

Strong's coaching staff in Austin now features two former Gundy assistants. Strong took defensive coordinator Vance Bedford with him from Louisville. Bedford served as the Cowboys' defensive coordinator somewhat infamously from 2005-06.