Littrell, who has been an offensive analyst for the Sooners this season following a seven-year head coaching stint at North Texas, will coach quarterbacks and serve as OU’s offensive play-caller. Finley, wrapping up his third season on OU’s staff, will continue to coach tight ends and will play an increased role in offensive game-planning and oversight.
“And I’ve known Joe Jon since he was a 17-year-old quarterback at Arlington (Texas) High School playing for a legendary coach in his dad, Mickey. Football and coaching have been in Joe Jon’s DNA his whole life. He’s got a tremendous offensive mind and his command and leadership of young people is special. He gained great experience at excellent programs, with stops at Baylor, Missouri, Texas A&M and Ole Miss, and has had exposure to some of the best offensive minds in college football. I really love what he is all about, with his offensive philosophy and the toughness he brings to the facility every day. He’s one of the best teachers and motivators I’ve been around. He’s incredibly bright and our players are going to love him in his enhanced role. He knows our system inside and out and he’s going to be a great head coach in the near future. He passed up on opportunities to be the sole coordinator at other programs because he wanted to do this at his alma mater. OU means so much to him. I’m incredibly grateful for his commitment and his decision to continue his coaching career here at OU in this elevated role.”
Littrell’s units at North Texas ranked among the top three in Conference USA in total offense, passing offense and scoring offense for four consecutive seasons from 2017-20, and led C-USA in rushing offense during both the 2020 and ’21 seasons. In 2020, when Littrell took over play-calling duties, the Mean Green ranked eighth nationally in total offense (513.2 yards per game) and ranked 23rd in scoring (34.4 points per game). In all, his squads produced four of the seven highest-scoring offenses in school history. Quarterback Mason Fine (2016-19) set school records for career passing yards (12,505) and touchdowns (93).
Prior to North Texas, Littrell served as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at North Carolina from 2014-15. In 2015, he guided an offense that ranked 11th nationally in scoring, second in yards per play (7.5) and third in yards per rush (6.0), and that set school records for points and touchdowns as the Tar Heels won the ACC Coastal Division. His 2014 unit established school records for passing yards and passing touchdowns.
Littrell spent the 2012 and ’13 seasons as offensive coordinator and tight ends/fullbacks coach at Indiana. His 2013 unit ranked ninth nationally in total offense (508.5 ypg), 17th in passing offense (306.7 ypg) and 30th in rushing offense (201.8 ypg). The Hoosiers were one of only three teams to average more than 300 passing yards and 200 rushing yards per game that season. In 2012, Indiana led the Big Ten and ranked 17th nationally in passing offense (311.2 ypg) and ranked second in the conference in total offense (442.0 ypg) and scoring offense (30.8 ppg).
