The Oklahoma coaching staff is undergoing changes again as they prepare to bid farewell to a crucial member, who is expected to join a soon-to-be SEC opponent.
Jay Nunez, who served as a senior special teams analyst under Brent Venables for the past two seasons, is reportedly set to join Kalen DeBoer’s new coaching team at Alabama, according to sources confirmed by Sooners Illustrated and 247Sports. Nunez’s departure was initially reported by OU Insider.
Although Nunez’s specific role at Alabama remains uncertain due to the coaching staff already being full, there’s speculation that he may undertake a similar responsibility as he did at Oklahoma, overseeing special teams operations as an off-field analyst.
During his tenure at Oklahoma, the special teams performance fluctuated. In 2022, the Sooners ranked 39th in ESPN’s SP+ ranking for special teams efficiency. However, this past season saw a significant decline, with the unit plummeting to 94th among FBS teams.
Notably, the kicking game presented challenges for the Sooners, with Zach Schmit struggling, particularly with field goals. Schmit’s inconsistency, including a 12-of-18 record in 2022 and a 15-of-21 record the following season, posed difficulties for Oklahoma. Additionally, issues arose in the punt game, exemplified by a blocked punt recovered for a touchdown by Texas and struggles with punt returns by Gavin Freeman.
Despite these challenges, there were bright spots for Oklahoma’s special teams. Punter Luke Elzinga, a transfer from Central Michigan, showed promise with an average of 46.5 yards per punt in the latter half of the season. Furthermore, freshman Peyton Bowen stood out as a playmaker with two blocked punts, one resulting in a safety.
Before his time with Venables at Oklahoma, Nunez held various coaching positions, including special teams coordinator at Eastern Michigan and special teams roles at Southern Illinois and Minnesota.
