OUInsider - Owen Field

Surely not. I remember reading that article in the paper about him a few weeks ago and like you said, i'm pretty sure he's never coached before.

Maybe so, but . . . Stoops told us he already knows who he's going to hire, but needs to wait.

That could mean a number of things, but to us it meant his team was still playing.

LSU; A&M; Oregon; Auburn . . . or the NFL??

If this happens, i'll be very interested to see the response it gets on this board. Hiring a guy who has never been a coach before would test the limits of trusting any and everything Bob does because he knows more than us. There isn't a more stable job in college football than a job on OU's staff. Not a man fired in 12 years. You'd think we'd have alot of very qualified men applying for this job.

Hey SP! Why the wait until after recruting period? Wht do you know about Kittle and think about the hire?

So we are now hiring friends with no coaching experience? Sweet!!

NORMAN — Bruce Kittle worked on high-dollar cases for big-time corporations, struck agreements for massive environmental cleanups, sat between murderers and their victims' families as they tried to reconcile, went to seminary, worked in prisons and pastored a church.

OU assistant coach Bruce Kittle has had success in many walks of life. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman

Multimedia
Videoview all videos
Bedlam countdown: No. 2 - 2008 thumbnail

Bedlam countdown: No. 2 - 2008

Nov 25Top 5 Bedlam games countdown - No. 2: 2008 #3 Oklahoma vs. #12...
Bedlam: The Remix thumbnail

Bedlam: The Remix

Nov 25Sooners and Cowboys players and coaches sound off as the biggest...
Photoview all photos
OU recruiting coordinator Bruce Kittle a man of many travels

Now, he sends letters to teenagers in hopes of convincing them to play football at Oklahoma.

Kittle is the on-campus recruiting coordinator for the Sooners, and creating correspondence to send recruits is just one of the wannabe coach's duties.

A fiftysomething who has been at the height of not one but several professions is now working behind the scenes of college football. A former standout on the Iowa football team is now operating under the radar of even the most die-hard Sooner fans.

And he loves it.

“I'm very grateful to be where I'm at with the opportunity I have,” Kittle said. “Our defensive coordinator at Iowa, Bill Brashier ... he would always tell us, ‘If you could go do anything else and be happy, you should go do it.'”

During a week Oklahomans are fixated on one very important football game, this story is a reminder of what's important. On a day Americans pause and count their blessings, no one is more thankful than Bruce Kittle.

Those who know him best say he's never been happier.

“I always felt in my heart ... his heart was in coaching,” his longtime friend Bob Stoops said. “I felt it all along. I never said that to him because he has to find his way and do in his heart what he feels like doing, but I've always felt that he'd be a good coach.”

Kittle's daughter, Emma, said, “He smiles all the time. It is so much fun to be around him.”

So, why is a guy who's doing college football's version of grunt work so happy? Why is he so grateful to be where he is even if it's not where he ultimately wants to be?

‘A FABULOUS COMPETITOR'

Bruce Kittle was going to be a football coach.

Growing up in Cedar Falls, Iowa, he became a multisport star. He went to the University of Iowa on a football scholarship, but the offensive lineman also wrestled for the legendary Hawkeyes.

“He's a fabulous competitor,” said Stoops, who played football at Iowa with Kittle.

Kittle's senior year, the offensive lineman was co-captain of Iowa's 1981 Rose Bowl team. He then went to work as a graduate assistant for legendary Hawkeyes coach Hayden Fry. He was learning from one of the best, he was preparing for the right opportunity, and after the Hawkeyes played in the 1986 Rose Bowl, he got a job offer.

“South Dakota or North Dakota or something like that,” Kittle remembered.

He knew the assistant's gig would be the first of many steps and various moves. He and his wife, Jan, were planning to start a family, and she had nine sisters who all lived in Iowa.

Could they leave the state and start the vagabond coaching lifestyle?

Sure.

They just weren't sure that they wanted to.

When Kittle got an acceptance letter from the law school at Iowa, he knew what he wanted to do.

Goodbye, football practice.

Hello, law practice.

MINISTRY CALLS

Bruce Kittle was on his way to being one heck of a lawyer.

After graduating in the top 10 percent of his law school class at Iowa, he landed a prestigious clerkship with the Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. He went to work for one of the most respected firms in Iowa, then left to work for one of the largest firms in Wisconsin.

All the while, he was working on bigger and bigger cases with more and more dollar signs.

“I couldn't have afforded me,” he said.

But after a close friend died of lung cancer, Kittle started to question his place in the world. Why was he spending his time moving money from one massive corporation to another? What good was it doing mankind?

Then while driving to work one winter day, he heard the call to ministry.

He figured he'd misunderstood.

He didn't come from a particularly spiritual family, after all, so the idea of going into the ministry seemed wacky. Plus, he had a wife and kids and a mortgage, and he was only two years from making partner. Surely, he wasn't supposed to go into ministry.

Not long after, Kittle was eating lunch when a Catholic priest sat down nearby. He wanted to talk to the man and ask him about this call to ministry, but he couldn't figure out what to say.

Instead, the priest approached.

“Are you considering going into the ministry?” he asked Kittle. “It is a wonderful and rewarding life. You will never regret it.”

Kittle started seminary a few months later.

AN EXPLORER

Bruce Kittle was happy with his new place in the world.

While he was in seminary, he took a part-time job at the University of Wisconsin's School of Law. There, he was introduced to restorative justice. Even though the justice system rules on cases, oftentimes the outcome isn't all that satisfying.

“Even when you win,” Kittle said, “you don't really win.”

Restorative justice seeks to heal the offender and the victims of crime through face-to-face meetings.

Kittle eventually became the director of the restorative justice program at Wisconsin and oversaw hundreds of those mediations. Nearly two dozen were between murderers and their victims' families.

“I've spent a lot of time with people who were in difficult situations,” he said.

But he loved the work. It was fulfilling. It was gratifying.

After his family moved back to Iowa in 2001, Kittle continued working as a mediator, then began pastoring a church as well. Even though he was working two jobs, he decided to take on a third gig — youth football coach.

His son, George, started playing in fifth and sixth grade, and the team needed some help.

“Then, the seventh-grade job was open,” Kittle said. “Then, eighth grade. Then, they hired me at the high school.”

He smiled wryly.

Kittle couldn't say no.

“I've never seen anyone that excited about seventh grade football,” daughter, Emma, said. “They watched so much film, it was ridiculous.”

Jan and the kids knew where things were headed.

“My family thinks I have about a 10-year limit on careers,” Kittle said. “I don't know if it works out exactly.”

He shrugged.

“I'm kind of an explorer.”

Still, none of the Kittles expected the journey to lead to Norman.

OVERQUALIFIED

Bruce Kittle was hoping for a reference from a friend.

About a year ago, Kittle called his buddy, Bob Stoops. They not only played and worked together at Iowa but also became great friends. They were in each other's weddings. They talked often. Their families visited each other.

Kittle wanted Stoops to know that he was planning to get into college coaching. Probably an assistant's spot. Likely a lower division program.

“Hey, if it's the right thing, I'm going to put my name in,” Kittle said. “Would you mind making a few calls?”

Kittle had no illusions about getting a job on Stoops' staff. He was a high school assistant. OU was one of the best programs in the country. A recommendation from Stoops was enough for Kittle.

But then, Stoops called in March with a job offer — on-campus recruiting coordinator.

Stoops knew he was overqualified for the position, and while Kittle wouldn't be allowed by NCAA rule to do any coaching, he would be able to see the inner workings of the program.

“This could be a steppingstone to relationships with all of our coaches and other coaches,” Stoops told him. “I think it'll lead to something really good for you.”

It wasn't the path Kittle expected. Then again, he's more of a road-less-traveled guy anyway.

“I've never been surprised at anything Bruce has done,” Stoops said. “He's a guy that when he puts his mind to something, it gets done.”

Kittle accepted the job and moved to Norman.

The entire family came with him, even Emma who had just finished her freshman season on the volleyball team at Iowa. She transferred and is now sophomore outside hitter for the Sooners.

“I couldn't imagine being away from my family,” said Emma, whose brother George was a standout for the Norman High football team this fall. “I'm amazed at how well it's worked out.”

She isn't the only one.

FOLLOW YOUR HEART

Bruce Kittle is still a little stunned to be spending this Thanksgiving week getting ready for Bedlam.

Two years ago, he and George were on the sideline as Sooner fans.

Now, he's part of the Sooner staff.

In addition to all his recruiting-related duties, he corresponds with the compliance office and facilitates some of the seminars for players. But his favorite times are those rare occasions when he has time to sit in on an offensive line meeting or go to a practice.

Being around the players is what he loves.

“Sometimes, it gets rough out there,” Sooner offensive lineman Eric Mensik said. “He's always got a positive attitude, always got a smile. He kind of brings everybody up.”

Kittle's positive vibe is genuine.

Sure, he dreams of a day when he's an assistant or maybe even a head coach, but he's got a chance to work with young men, teach life skills, listen to problems and help find solutions.

Right now, he couldn't imagine being anywhere different doing anything better.

“You've just got to take a chance and see what happens,” Kittle said. “You've just got to follow your heart.”

Read more: http://newsok.com/ou-recruiting-coordinator-bruce-kittle-a-man-of-many-travels/article/3517777#ixzz1APcw4zkg

Personally I think it will be a great hire if he does promote Bruce Kittle. I have read his background with interest and think he will be a good addition to the staff. After all Kevin Wilson's position is already filled. This has been well thought out by Coach Stoops and Kittle will do us proud if he is the one chosen. Boomer Sooner!

The guy played college ball and accomplished all that and y'all are worried that he can't handle coaching FBs and TEs? Come on! If he's the guy, I'm sure he'll do a great job.

Bob has hired some pretty good talent in his day. If he thinks this guy can coach, I think he's right.

It's not WHAT you know...it's WHO you know. Right?

I was hoping for Jonathan Hayes or someone that could bring something to the special teams that we didn't already have. That's what disappoints me. :-/