Oklahoma's Stoops named top coach

(AP)-- Bob Stoops needed just one season to make Oklahoma respectable in the conference. In his second season, the Sooners are more than respectable _ they're No. 1 in the country, and Stoops is the

Tuesday, November 28th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(AP)-- Bob Stoops needed just one season to make Oklahoma respectable in the conference. In his second season, the Sooners are more than respectable _ they're No. 1 in the country, and Stoops is the overwhelming choice as Associated Press Big 12 Coach of the Year.

Stoops received 17 of 20 votes in balloting by sportswriters throughout the conference. Dan McCarney, who led Iowa State to an 8-3 season and its first bowl game since 1978, received the other three votes.

``That's an award that to me is given to the entire coaching staff,'' Stoops said Tuesday. ``I'm appreciative and honored. I'm fortunate to work with the guys I work with every day. These coaches are excellent. We've got a great rapport in our office and our day-to-day working environment. I think every one of us can't wait to get to work.''

When Stoops took over as Oklahoma's coach in December 1998, he inherited a team that had won just 12 games in the previous three years. What he found were players who lacked confidence and had poor work habits, and he quickly went about changing that.

``There are three factors that I think have made him successful here,'' offensive coordinator Mark Mangino said. ``The first one is his positive attitude, that type of can-do attitude. The second thing is that he doesn't accept excuses for anything. If you fail at something or don't get it done, then you didn't get it done.

``The third thing is he came in here and embraced the tradition and high expectations of OU. He didn't come in and say 'We're going to have to wait a while until we recruit our own players.' ''

The most important recruit of all proved to be quarterback Josh Heupel, who was discovered at a junior college in Utah. Heupel threw for 3,460 yards last year, and has had another great year in 2000, leading Oklahoma to its first 11-0 season since 1987.

Stoops points to four things when he is asked how he was able to turn things around so quickly: Heupel's play, the dedication of all the players during the last offseason, the work of his assistant coaches, and the job done in the weight room by strength and conditioning director Jerry Schmidt.

But his players point to him. They says he is demanding but fair and always consistent in his approach.

``Before, if we went on the road and got beat, on the way back, everybody would be laughing, giggling, having fun,'' senior offensive tackle Scott Kempenich said. ``It didn't hurt to lose, and that's the thing that changed a lot.

``Even when we win. There's been a couple games we won and I didn't play my best, and I wasn't even really happy because I knew I had to get better. That's a totally different attitude than in the past. In past when we won, everything was great.''

Receiver Damian Mackey said the offseason and summer workouts under Stoops are much more difficult than they were under the previous regime.

In addition, ``You can't take away the fact coach Stoops is a great motivator. There's something about the way coach Stoops preaches to our team, it makes us feel like we can't lose.''

Oklahoma has done plenty of winning this year. After starting out with four victories at home, the Sooners faced a rugged October _ games against No. 11 Texas in Dallas, at No. 2 Kansas State, and home against No. 1 Nebraska.

The Sooners swept all three to move to No. 1, where they have stayed.

``I've said that all along, that we never had a date when we'd be in this position,'' Stoops said after the Nebraska game. ``We've just taken the approach that we're going to get better each and every week as a team, we're going to get better each and every month as a team. That's how we started and that's how we've progressed.''

Now Oklahoma has moved to within two victories of its seventh national championship. The school administration recently rewarded Stoops by extending his contract and doubling his salary, to about $1.4 million per year.

``It's really a point, almost, where you start to reach for new superlatives when you try to describe his impact on this program in two years,'' athletic director Joe Castiglione said. ``He has a real knack for creating an environment that inspires people to be successful.''