Eric Morris is wasting no time putting his stamp on the Oklahoma State coaching staff, and his latest hire brings more Texas flavor to Stillwater.
Michael O’Guin, who most recently served as the defensive line coach at Texas State, is expected to take over the Cowboys’ defensive tackle group. It’s a move that adds both proven production and deep recruiting ties in the Lone Star State-something Morris clearly values as he builds his first staff.
O’Guin’s impact at Texas State was immediate and impressive. In his first season with the Bobcats, the defensive front wreaked havoc.
Texas State led the nation in tackles for loss with 110 and finished in the Top 10 nationally in sacks. The unit’s 40 sacks set a new FBS-era school record, and the defensive line alone was responsible for 31 of them.
That’s not just solid production-that’s dominance up front.
Before his stint at Texas State, O’Guin helped build one of the most disruptive defensive lines in the FCS at Sam Houston. Over two seasons there, he coached a front that consistently got after the quarterback and controlled the line of scrimmage. He also served as the program’s Defensive Recruiting Coordinator, giving him valuable experience in identifying and developing talent-skills that will serve him well in Stillwater.
O’Guin’s coaching journey has taken him through some of the most respected programs in the country. He was a graduate assistant at Texas Tech in 2019, then spent a season on staff at Notre Dame in 2020 as a defensive assistant.
He played his college ball at SMU as a defensive lineman, giving him firsthand knowledge of what it takes to succeed in the trenches. Add in five years of high school coaching experience in Texas, and you’ve got a coach who understands the game at every level and knows how to connect with young players.
At Oklahoma State, O’Guin will work closely with a familiar face to Cowboy fans-Greg Richmond, a former OSU standout and returning defensive line coach. Richmond’s return was announced just two days prior to news of O’Guin’s hiring, and together they’ll be tasked with retooling a defensive front that has long been a strength of the program.
This pairing has the potential to bring a fresh edge to the Cowboys’ defensive line. O’Guin brings a track record of production and player development, while Richmond offers deep institutional knowledge and a strong connection to the OSU legacy.
As Morris continues to round out his staff, it’s clear he’s prioritizing coaches who can recruit, develop, and bring energy to the program. O’Guin checks all those boxes-and then some.