Three OU Assistant Coaches Make Rivals List

Tom Dienhart, a senior college football writer for Rivals.com, has placed three OU assistant coaches on his "Top 20 Hottest Assistants in the Nation" list. Dienhart says each coach on the list could be leading a program of their own soon.

• Brent Venables (listed as #10) - "He has been at Bob Stoops' side every season in Norman, annually producing and building one of the nation's premier defenses. Venables, 40, also is a strong recruiter and motivator who has come close to landing some jobs. His day will come."
• Josh Heupel (listed as #11) - "Mike Leach, Mark Mangino, Kevin Sumlin and Kevin Wilson have jumped from this position to a coaching job. Heupel, 33, will be next. He has developed quarterbacks Sam Bradford and Landry Jones as their position coach. Now, Heupel will push the buttons on the Sooners' attack. Could Heupel be Stoops' successor?"
• Jay Norvell (listed as #15) - "Norvell, 48, has an impressive resume that has seen him coordinate offenses at Nebraska and UCLA as well as serve as an assistant in the NFL with the Colts and Raiders. Norvell has interviewed for numerous jobs, and perhaps this offseason, he will get one."