STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) -Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy hired Tennessee receivers coach Trooper Taylor on Wednesday to be the Cowboys’ co-offensive coordinator.
Taylor was on the same Baylor staff with Gundy and former Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Larry Fedora for one season in 1996 before the three parted ways. Fedora was hired as coach at Southern Mississippi last week, and Gundy acted quickly to fill a void on his staff, even though he hinted earlier Wednesday he had had little time to consider potential replacements for Fedora.
The Cowboys play Alabama in the Independence Bowl on New Year’s Eve.
Regarded as a strong recruiter, the 37-year-old Taylor has been on Phillip Fulmer’s staff at Tennessee since 2004. He also has coached at Tulane and New Mexico, and he played defensive back at Baylor before joining the staff there.
At Tennessee, Taylor has coached Robert Meachem, who set the Volunteers’ season record for receiving yards (1,298) before becoming a first-round draft pick by the New Orleans Saints this year.
Taylor joins an offense that ranked ninth in the nation in total offense (484 yards), seventh in rushing (245.8 ypg) and averaged 33.4 points last season but loses top rusher Dantrell Savage and top receiver Adarius Bowman.
Taylor was considered a possible candidate to be promoted by Fulmer to offensive coordinator, replacing David Cutcliffe, who was hired by Duke as head coach.
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