Baylor OC Philip Montgomery named new Tulsa head coach

Baylor offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery is expected to be hired as the new head coach of Tulsa, FootballScoop is reporting. Tulsa World’s John Hoover reports Tulsa is “zeroing in on” Montgomery and currently negotiating with the coach.

Montgomery began his coaching career at his alma mater, Tarleton State, in 1996, serving as a grad assistant for two seasons. In 1997, he moved on to Stephenville (Texas) High School, where he as an assistant on then-head coach Art Briles’ staff for six seasons. In 2002, he moved on to Denton (Texas) High, where he was offensive coordinator for one season.

When he left the high school ranks in 2003, Montgomery reunited with Briles at Houston, coaching the Cougars’ backfield for five seasons and also holding the co-offensive coordinator position in 2007. He helped turn Houston’s offense into one of the nation’s best, and played a part in developing players such as Kevin Kolb and Jackie Battle. When Briles moved on to Baylor in 2008, Montgomery followed and has led the Bears’ offense ever since.

The year before the pair arrived in Waco, Baylor’s offense ranked 111th in the country in F/+. They’ve ranked in the top 32 in six of the seven years since, including three straight top five finishes from 2011-13. During that time, Montgomery helped produce a Heisman winner (Robert Griffin III) and back-to-back Big 12 titles. Our Daily Bears expects a promotion from within for Baylor if they need to replace Montgomery.

Montgomery would replace Bill Blankenship, who posted a 24-27 record in four seasons with Tulsa. Over the past two seasons, the Golden Hurricane have won just five games.

UPDATE: It’s official, if the official Tulsa twitter account is to be believed.