After Derek Mason announced his sabbatical on Thursday, Mike Gundy and the Oklahoma State Cowboys are looking for a new defensive coordinator just one year after Mason was hired. Here is a look at the top handful of candidates as Gundy's search begins.
1. Joe Bob Clements - Linebackers, Oklahoma State
"JBC" is the obvious lead candidate at this point. He was a candidate one year ago before Mason was ultimately hired. He moved to coaching linebackers this season after a long career as a defensive line specialist, with the ultimate goal of increasing the depth and breadth of his knowledge of the overall defense. Clements is also the second longest-tenured assistant on Gundy's staff, behind offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn. His only major drawback? He hasn't been a defensive coordinator, though he did serve as Kansas State's run-game DC in 2012 and was the play-caller for OSU's win over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl a year ago. He has proven to be one of the best on-field coaches and recruiters in the Gundy Era. He is well-versed in Jim Knowles' defensive philosophy - one that Mason was supposed to adopt, but that never really materialized. Add in a young linebacker's coach with ties to Knowles and OSU - like Tulsa's Koy McFarland or Houstan Christian DC Shane Eachus - and it could become a great fit.
2. Jim Leonhard - unemployed, most recently Wisconsin's DC:
Leonhard is a hot name for both head coaching jobs and top defensive coordinator jobs. He looked in line to be the Badgers' next coach but was ultimately passed over for Luke Fickell. Gundy got an up-close look at Leonhard's defense in OSU's loss to UW in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl two weeks ago. Leonhard's 3-4 scheme is not exactly what Gundy is looking to run, so it may not be a fit. It's certainly worth a call to gauge interest, though. He's already been tied to top DC jobs like USC, and open head jobs like Purdue.
3. Gary Patterson - analyst, Texas:
Not long ago, Patterson and Gundy were the Big 12's elder-statesmen head coaches. Both have long professed admiration for the other and a very good relationship. Though his tenure as TCU's head coach ultimately ended, Patterson knows defense. The big questions here are whether Patterson desires to be a coodinator again, or only has eyes on HC jobs and whether he's willing to adjust his scheme and philosophy to what Gundy wants to see in a defense in 2023.
4. Jon Heacock - defensive coordinator, Iowa State:
Heacock would be higher on this list except for one thing: he's been a hot commodity the last several off-seasons, but so far has remained loyal to Matt Campbell and Iowa State. Beyond that, Gundy has expressed admiration for the innovative approach Heacock and the Cyclones have taken toward defending Big 12 offenses. It's a style and philosophy that Knowles melded with his own to form the 2021 Cowboy defense, which is among the best ever at OSU. Like Leonhard, it's surely worth a call to gauge interest.
5. Gary Gibbs - analyst, Oklahoma State:
I don't think this is very likely a realistic option, but Gibbs' name has been mentioned. The former Oklahoma, Georgia, LSU and New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator most certainly has the bona fides and defensive mind to do the job. He's also been on Gundy's staff as an analyst for the last four years, and thus is intimately familiar with everything OSU has done defensively in that time. Still, at 70 years old, Gibbs might not be the best fit for OSU at this point and he may not want to leave the comfort of his analyst position.
6. The Field:
Gundy has shown in previous coordinator searches on both sides of the ball that he's willing to look way outside of the box. As such, we have to account for possibilities that aren't currently on anyone's radar.
