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Oklahoma Sooners set to make Special Teams Coordinator Hire

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Oklahoma Sooners set to make Special Teams Coordinator Hire


It looks like the Oklahoma Sooners have found their next special teams coordinator.

After Jay Nunez left OU for Alabama, the Sooners had a position on staff to fill. Brent Venables and the Sooners have reportedly zeroed in on San Diego State special teams coach Doug Deakin.

According to Collin Kennedy and Matt Zenitz of 247Sports, Oklahoma and Deakin are closing in on a deal.

The Oklahoma Sooners are closing in on another potential key hire for the football program. According to sources, Sooners Illustrated on the 247Sports Network has learned that OU has zeroed in on Doug Deakin, formerly of San Diego State, as its next special teams analyst hire.  – Collin Kennedy, 247Sports and Sooners Illustrated

Deakin has spent the last 17 years with San Diego State in a variety of roles after starting his playing career with the Aztecs as as walk on. For the last six seasons, he’s coached one of the best special teams units in the country. According to the San Diego State football website, the Aztecs finished in the top 10 in ESPN’s special teams efficiency rating each of the last three seasons.

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In 2023, under Deakin’s coaching, Jack Browning was a second-team All-Mountain West performer and a semi-finalist for both the Ray Guy and Lou Groza awards. Returners Mekhi Shaw and Kenan Christon earned all-conference honorable mention honors.

In 2022, Jordan Byrd was the only player in FBS to return a kick and a punt for a touchdown. Byrd earned All-MWC first-team honors as both a kick and punt returner.

In 2021, Matt Araiza won the Ray Guy Award, given to the nation’s best punter.

Doug Deakin has a strong track record of success during his time as a special teams coach. Special teams was an issue for OU in 2023. In every facet of special teams play, the Sooners underwhelmed at different times during the season.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on Twitter @john9williams.

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Oklahoma Adds OF Adi Hansen From Southern Idaho

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Oklahoma Adds OF Adi Hansen From Southern Idaho


NORMAN — Oklahoma softball’s transfer portal activity may have been fairly slow developing.

But now, as the portal window nears its end, the Sooners have started having success.

Oklahoma added outfielder Adi Hansen, a standout at the College of Southern Idaho for the last two seasons on Thursday.

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Hansen’s announcement, made on Instagram, followed shortly after Middle Tennessee outfielder Macie Harter announced her commitment to the Sooners.

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Hansen led the Golden Eagles with a .457 batting average in 186 at bats in 2026, with an eye-popping 82 runs scored and a school-record 62 stolen bases on 67 attempts.

Hansen had 17 games with two or more stolen bases this season and twice had four stolen bases in a game.

Hansen had four triples and 21 RBIs, drawing 23 walks.

She earned NJCAA first-team All-America honors, helping her team finish 43-13 with a NJCAA Division I Juco World Series appearance.

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In 2025, as a freshman, Hansen hit .401 with 36 stolen bases and 62 ruyns scored.

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Hansen is a Logan, Utah, product.

Hansen and Harter join a group of outfielders that includes Kai Minor in centerfield and Ella Parker in right field.

The Sooners lost Abby Dayton to graduation and Kasidi Pickering to transfer after the season. Pickering will reportedly transfer to Texas Tech.

Oklahoma finished 52-10 last season, missing the Women’s College World Series for the first time since 2015 after falling to Mississippi State in three games in the Norman Super Regional.

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The Sooners have a strong incoming recruiting class and return a trio of pitchers — Audrey Lowry, Miali Guachino and Allyssa Parker — as well as experienced hitters Kendall Wells, Gabbie Garcia, Nelly McEnroe-Marinas plus Minor and Ella Parker.

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In addition to the departures of Dayton and Pickering, the Sooners also lost pitchers Sydney Berzon and Kierston Deal, first baseman Isabela Emerling, and second baseman Ailana Agbayani to graduation. Outfielder Tia Milloy, pitcher Berkley Zache and utility player Riley Zache also entered the transfer portal.

Oklahoma’s incoming class includes Edmond Santa Fe pitcher Keegan Baker, Lakewood, Calif., infielder Ki’ele Ho-Ching, Mililani, Hawaii, infielder Ori Mailo, Fullerton, Calif., pitcher Malaya Majam-Finch, Katy, Texas, pitcher EK Smith, and Mesa, Ariz., outfilder Payton Westra.

Mailo was with the Sooners this season, redshirting after joining the program a year early.

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Oklahoma City police investigating early morning shooting

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Oklahoma City police investigating early morning shooting


Oklahoma City police are investigating an early morning shooting that left one man injured in northeast Oklahoma City.

Around 3 a.m. on Thursday, emergency crews were called to a reported shooting near Kelley and Wilshire Blvd.

Investigators say the shooting occurred between a couple inside the home, adding that the woman shot the man.

However, police say they are trying to determine if the shooting was accidental.

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The victim was rushed to the hospital for treatment.

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The woman has been taken into custody for questioning, but it is unknown if she will face charges just yet.



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North Carolina, Oklahoma advance to the Men’s College World Series finals

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North Carolina, Oklahoma advance to the Men’s College World Series finals


Oklahoma is just three outs away from steamrolling through the right side of the bracket and knocking out Georgia to reach the championship finals.

To prepare, let’s take a look at what arms we should expect for the Sooners just like we did for the North Carolina earlier.

The Sooners have leaned heavily on their freshmen pitching trio in Cord Rager, Xander Mercurius and Nick Wesloski throughout Omaha. The first two went at least seven innings, while Wesloski tossed 5.2 innings on Wednesday. Even though they used relievers LJ Mercurius and Jackson Cleveland in the first two games, neither pitched more than two innings nor allowed a run. 

If LJ, who entered for Wesloski on Wednesday, finishes the game, he will have gone 3.1 innings.

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That sets up Oklahoma very well to matchup with UNC, which went 3-0 and also hasn’t used many arms up to this point. 

If OU does win, expect Rager, Xander Mercurius and Cleveland to be ready to go. Rager, who hasn’t pitched since their first round game against Alabama on Saturday, June 13, would have a full week of rest.



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