After one season on the job, Joe Jon Finley is leaving Lane Kiffin’s program.
The former Ole Miss tight ends coach was named the new tight ends coach for Oklahoma on Tuesday. He takes over the spot vacated by Shane Beamer, who left the Sooners to take the head coaching position at South Carolina.
During his one season in Oxford, Finley helped develop transfer tight end Kenny Yeboah, who caught 27 passes for 524 yards and six touchdowns in his eight games last season for the Rebels.
Finley is an Oklahoma graduate. He came to Oxford after coaching tight ends for Texas A&M and Missouri.
“We’re excited to welcome Joe Jon and his family back to Norman,” said Riley. “He obviously had a great playing career and has established himself as one of the top tight end coaches in the country. He’s had great experience working for several tremendous programs and I know he’s going to bring a lot to ours. We’re thrilled to welcome him back and can’t wait for him to get started.”
Finley played for the Sooners from 2004-2007, helping Oklahoma win three Big 12 championships.
“Oklahoma’s my alma mater, it’s where I met my wife and where I started my coaching career, so obviously it’s a special place to my family,” said Finley in a released statement. “I look forward to working with great coaches, great players and great support from Sooner Nation. I can’t thank (Athletics Director) Joe Castiglione and Coach Riley enough for bringing me back home. Boomer Sooner!”
Following his college career, Finley went on to the NFL, where he played for the San Francisco 49ers, the Detroit Lions and the Carolina Panthers.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
