Stoops drops two more assistants

At Oklahoma

NORMAN, Okla. - Coach Bob Stoops confirmed a big shake-up on his staff at Oklahoma on Wednesday, with defensive tackles coach Jackie Shipp and offensive line assistant Bruce Kittle both relieved of their duties.

Stoops has now let three of his assistants go this week. Interior offensive line coach James Patton was hired at Indiana on Monday after getting dumped from the Sooners' staff.

The moves were prompted by a drop-off in Oklahoma's performance along the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball in recent seasons. When compounded with the departure of two assistant coaches last offseason, Stoops is enduring the biggest turnover on his staff in his 14 seasons at Oklahoma.

Shipp had been on Stoops' staff throughout his tenure, while Kittle was a full-time assistant for the past two seasons.

"I anticipate speaking with several candidates that I have identified for our coaching staff, but I have yet to interview any of those individuals," Stoops said in a statement.