NORMAN — OU football is hiring Washington State’s Ben Arbuckle as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, the program announced on Monday.
ESPN was the first to report the news of Arbuckle’s three-year deal on Monday afternoon.
“Ben is an extremely passionate and innovative coach who does a great job of finding ways to maximize his personnel,” head coach Brent Venables said in a statement. “He has developed dynamic quarterbacks in his young coaching career and sees the QB game through a unique perspective and lens, as he played the position himself. He’s got an infectious energy and mindset, and is a fantastic teacher of the game with an impeccable work ethic.
“He relates well to young people, and his beliefs, values and concern for student-athletes on their journey align with our values and philosophy here at OU.”
Arbuckle spent the past two seasons as Washington State’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach and is considered one of the top young offensive minds in the country. The Cougars’ offense ranked 24th this season according to ESPN’s SP+ efficiency ratings.
Arbuckle, 29, was raised in Canadian, Texas, and played quarterback at West Texas A&M from 2016-17. Before landing the Washington State play-calling job, he served as Western Kentucky’s co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2022 and the Hilltoppers’ offensive quality control coach in 2021 under offensive coordinator Zach Kittley.
Under Arbuckle’s offensive leadership in 2022, Western Kentucky ranked seventh nationally in total offense.
“Right off the bat, my first conversation with coach Venables got me really excited,” Arbuckle said in a statement. “Hearing his vision for the program and the OU offense, I was in total alignment and ready to roll. To have this opportunity to join the University of Oklahoma football program, with its longstanding tradition of excellence, was so enticing to me and I wanted to be a part of it more than anything.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to be in this situation and I’m ready to hit the ground running and get this thing going.”
Prior to his time at Western Kentucky, Arbuckle was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Seminole High School in Texas and served as an offensive quality control assistant at Houston Baptist for two seasons under Kittley.
Arbuckle has also gained a reputation for developing quarterbacks. He helped John Mateer to an impressive season in 2024, worked with Miami quarterback Cam Ward last season at Washington State and oversaw Austin Reed’s 2022 season at Western Kentucky where he led the country in passing yards.
Arbuckle also helped mentor Bailey Zappe who broke FBS records for passing yards and passing touchdowns in a single season with 5,967 and 62, respectively, in 2021.
If Mateer enters the transfer portal, several teams are expected to be interested in him. Mateer threw for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2024.
The Sooners’ quarterback situation is in flux as Jackson Arnold mulls his future.
“We’re going to run an attacking-style offense,” Arbuckle said. “I want to take the fight to the defense. I want to put our guys in position to be successful at all times, and ultimately go out there and be explosive and put a product on the field that Sooner Nation is proud of. I’m excited to get to Norman and get to work.”
Venables also seemed to indicate the rest of OU’s offensive staff will remain intact.
“I’m incredibly excited to see our offense reach new heights under Ben’s guidance and leadership,” Venables said, “working alongside the rest of our offensive staff of Coach (Joe Jon) Finley, Coach (Bill) Bedenbaugh, Coach (DeMarco) Murray and Coach (Emmett) Jones.”
Ben Arbuckle
- Age: 29
- Hometown: Canadian, Texas
- Playing career: West Texas A&M, quarterback (2016-17)
- Coaching career: Houston Baptist quality control (2018-19), Seminole (Texas) High offensive coordinator/quarterbacks (2020), Western Kentucky offensive quality control (2021), Western Kentucky co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks (2022), Washington State offensive coordinator (2023-24)
- Offensive system: Air Raid
- Notable players coached: Bailey Zappe, Cam Ward, John Mateer
(This article has been updated with new information.)