Oklahoma State continues to reshape its coaching staff, and the latest additions bring some serious defensive pedigree to Stillwater. On Monday, the Cowboys officially announced the hirings of Julian Wilson as cornerbacks coach and Reggie Johnson as linebackers coach - two familiar faces from North Texas who are following new OSU defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity and offensive coordinator Eric Morris up the I-35 corridor.
Both Wilson and Johnson worked under Cassity at Sam Houston in 2024, and their arrival in Stillwater marks another step in what’s becoming a clear vision for the Cowboys’ revamped defensive identity.
Reggie Johnson: A Veteran Voice for the Linebackers Room
When it comes to experience, few coaches bring a résumé as deep as Reggie Johnson. With nearly three decades in the game, Johnson has made stops across the college football landscape - from Louisville to Arkansas, Purdue to UAB - and everywhere in between.
His coaching journey began in 1997 at his alma mater, Louisville, where he broke in as a graduate assistant. Since then, he’s built a reputation as a trusted linebackers coach and occasional defensive coordinator. In fact, Johnson has spent 21 of his 28 seasons coaching linebackers, and he’s led defenses at UAB, Alabama A&M, and most recently as co-defensive coordinator at Missouri State in 2023.
For Oklahoma State, Johnson offers more than just experience - he brings a track record of developing physical, disciplined linebacker play. He’s coached in major bowl games like the Orange, Sugar, and Cotton Bowls, and his units have consistently shown toughness and sound fundamentals. That kind of leadership will be crucial for a Cowboys defense looking to re-establish its identity in the Big 12.
Johnson’s roots in the game run deep. As a former linebacker at Louisville from 1987 to 1990, he was part of a 10-1-1 squad that capped off his senior season with a win over Alabama in the Fiesta Bowl. That player’s mentality still shows up in his coaching - tough, smart, and detail-oriented.
Here’s a quick look at Johnson’s coaching path:
- 1997-98: Louisville (Graduate Assistant)
- 1998-2000: Alabama A&M (Special Teams / Inside Linebackers)
- 2001-02: UTEP (Defensive Ends / Linebackers)
- 2003-07: Louisville (Defensive Line / Linebackers)
- 2008-11: Arkansas (Linebackers)
- 2012-13: UAB (Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers)
- 2014-15: Alabama A&M (Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers / DL)
- 2016: Western Kentucky (Defensive Ends)
- 2017-19: Purdue (Defensive Line)
- 2020-22: Missouri State (Linebackers)
- 2023: Missouri State (Co-Defensive Coordinator)
- 2024: Sam Houston (Linebackers)
- 2025: North Texas (Linebackers)
That’s a lot of stops, but it also means Johnson brings a wide lens and a deep understanding of how to mold a defense - something Oklahoma State will gladly tap into.
Julian Wilson: A Rising Star in the Secondary
On the other end of the age and experience spectrum is Julian Wilson, a young but fast-rising defensive backs coach with deep Oklahoma ties and a growing reputation for developing secondaries that make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks.
Wilson played his college ball at Oklahoma from 2010 to 2014, finishing just shy of 100 career tackles and picking off four passes - including one in the 2013 Bedlam game. He’s an Oklahoman through and through, having graduated from Southmoore High School. His football roots even stretch to Stillwater, where his father, Darrell McCowan, lettered at Oklahoma State in the early '90s.
But Wilson’s coaching chops go well beyond his playing days. Since beginning his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Texas Tech in 2020, he’s quickly climbed the ranks.
He worked alongside Cassity at Abilene Christian, then again at Sam Houston, where their 2024 defense finished in the top 15 nationally in pass defense and racked up 16 interceptions. That’s not a coincidence - Wilson’s fingerprints were all over that secondary.
In 2024, North Texas gave up 265.6 passing yards per game. This season, with Wilson and Cassity in town, that number dropped to 163.2. That’s a dramatic improvement - and it speaks volumes about Wilson’s ability to teach technique, instill confidence, and get his guys playing fast and aggressive.
Now, he brings that energy and expertise to Stillwater, where he’ll be tasked with elevating the Cowboys’ cornerback play in a Big 12 that’s still loaded with high-octane passing attacks.
The Bigger Picture
With Johnson and Wilson joining the staff, Oklahoma State is clearly betting on continuity and chemistry - both with Cassity and with each other. These aren’t just hires for the sake of filling spots; they’re calculated moves to build a cohesive, aggressive defense that can compete week in and week out.
Johnson brings the veteran presence and leadership. Wilson brings youth, relatability, and a knack for developing DBs. Together, they represent a strong blend of experience and upside - and they know exactly what Cassity wants from his defense because they’ve already been in the trenches with him.
For a Cowboys team looking to bounce back and reassert itself in the Big 12, these hires are more than just names on a staff directory. They’re building blocks for a defense with something to prove.