Assistant strength coach James Dobson is expected to replace Schmidt as head of strength and conditioning, while Jerry Schmidt takes on a new position
A major shift is coming inside the Oklahoma football program, and it involves one of the most influential behind-the-scenes figures in modern Sooners history.
According to reports, longtime Oklahoma strength and conditioning coach Jerry Schmidt is moving into a new role as chief of staff for the OU football program. Assistant strength coach James Dobson is expected to be promoted to head strength and conditioning coach, taking over the position Schmidt has held for years.
Schmidt’s name has been synonymous with Oklahoma football for well over a decade. He first arrived in Norman in 2007 under Bob Stoops and quickly became one of the most respected strength coaches in college football.
Over the years, Schmidt was credited not only with transforming bodies in the weight room, but also with shaping the mentality of the program. His high-energy presence, demanding standards, and relentless approach to development became a staple of OU’s identity through multiple coaching staffs.
When Brent Venables took over as the Sooners' new head coach in 2022, Schmidt returned to Norman as well as strength and conditioning coach. He had spent the previous four seasons at Texas A&M.
The move to chief of staff signals a new chapter in Schmidt’s career and an evolving structure within the Sooners’ program. While the title takes him out of the day-to-day grind of the weight room, it keeps him deeply embedded in the operation. A chief of staff typically plays a wide-ranging role, helping manage internal organization, overseeing logistics, supporting coaches, and acting as a bridge between different departments within the program.
For a program navigating the modern era of college football—where roster management, NIL, recruiting infrastructure, and player support are more complex than ever—this position carries growing importance.
Schmidt’s deep relationships within the building and across the sport make him a natural fit. Few people understand the inner workings of Oklahoma football better than he does.
His presence in the chief of staff role gives the Sooners an experienced voice helping guide daily operations and long-term structure, even as he steps away from coaching lifts and workouts.
On the performance side, all eyes now turn to James Dobson. Dobson has been part of the OU strength staff and is expected to replace Schmidt as head of strength and conditioning.
While he may not yet have Schmidt’s national profile, he’s widely regarded within the program as someone who understands the culture, expectations, and physical demands of Oklahoma football.
Promoting from within offers continuity at a time when stability matters, particularly as the Sooners continue to compete in a new conference environment.
The strength and conditioning program is often called the heartbeat of a football operation. It’s where habits are formed, leadership emerges, and off-season championships are built.
Dobson will inherit a standard that has been decades in the making. Maintaining that edge—while also evolving with new training methods and sports science—will be one of his biggest challenges.
For Oklahoma, this move represents both respect for the past and preparation for the future. Jerry Schmidt’s influence won’t disappear; it will simply take a different form.
And for James Dobson, the opportunity ahead is massive: to lead one of the most visible and impactful units in one of college football’s most tradition-rich programs.
If confirmed, the transition marks the end of an era in the weight room—and the beginning of a new one across the broader structure of OU football.