After losing Jay Boulware to Texas, his alma mater, Oklahoma has filled its running backs job with one of its own: DeMarco Murray is now OU's running backs coach.
"This is a really exciting day, being able to welcome one of our program's all-time best players back to Norman," Lincoln Riley said in a statement. "DeMarco had a tremendous playing career both at OU and in the NFL and has a passion for coaching and helping young men grow as players and people. He's got an incredibly bright coaching future and will be an outstanding mentor to our players. I don't think there's anyone better to lead our running backs. Everyone in our program is excited to have DeMarco, his wife Heidi and their children as part of our family."
A product of powerhouse Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Murray played at Oklahoma from 2006-10. The Sooners' coaches put the ball in his hands as a runner, receiver and return man, and as a result Murray left Norman as the school's record-holder in all-purpose yards (6,718) and touchdowns (65).
He then played seven seasons in the NFL -- Murray was the NFL's leading rusher as a Dallas Cowboy in 2014 -- and moved into his post-playing career as an analyst for FOX Sports in 2018. Murray entered coaching as Arizona's running backs coach in 2019.
"This is very surreal," Murray said. "Obviously I never thought I'd be back coaching at the place where it all started for me. Having the opportunity to come back and be among great coaches and be with some of the people I grew up with is exciting. I'm thankful for the opportunity Coach Riley is giving me and I'm looking forward to being back home."
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