Oklahoma State president Jim Hess wants Cowboy fans talking about football, wrestling, and basketball. Not the athletic director’s job status. After Friday’s regents meeting in Okmulgee, Hess told The Constitution that the buzz about Chad Weiberg should go away, and he’s got a case: football sits at 4-2 under first-year coach Eric Morris, wrestling finished second nationally, women’s basketball landed a top transfer class, and men’s basketball won 20 games. Weiberg hired all four of those coaches.
The rumor mill isn’t cooperating. Reports say some regents want West Virginia athletic director Wren Baker in the job, and that board chair Joe D. Hall and major donor Ross McKnight are behind the push. Baker is an Oklahoma native, which adds an interesting local twist.
Friday’s meeting offered no resolution either way. There were no athletics items on the agenda, and Weiberg didn’t attend. Hess himself said he’s fascinated by the speculation but would rather everyone focus on the positive things happening across the university. For Cowboy fans heading into the weekend, the question is simple: how much does the noise behind the scenes matter when the scoreboard keeps looking good?
Do you think Weiberg’s job is safe, or will this story heat back up? Let us know on our social pages.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.