Completed Event: Football versus Auburn on September 20, 2025 , Win , 24, to, 17
Final
Football
24
vs Auburn
17
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Football
Deland McCullough
- Title:
- Running Backs
Deland McCullough was hired as Oklahoma running backs coach on Feb. 22, 2026. One of the most respected developers of running back talent in college and professional football, McCullough brings championship experience, proven production and national recruiting reach to Oklahoma. A Super Bowl champion with the Kansas City Chiefs and a veteran of both the NFL and major college football, McCullough has built his reputation on consistent results and disciplined player development.
Since becoming a full-time running backs coach in 2011, McCullough has mentored backs who have produced 17 seasons of 1,000 or more yards from scrimmage. His units have excelled at every level — from record-setting college rushing attacks to championship-caliber NFL offenses.
McCullough spent the 2025 season with the Las Vegas Raiders, where rookie Ashton Jeanty totaled 1,321 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns, setting a franchise rookie record. McCullough’s ability to transition players from college systems into productive professional contributors has been a hallmark of his coaching career.
Prior to his time in the NFL, McCullough served three seasons at Notre Dame (2022-24), where his running backs room became one of the nation's most productive. In 2023, Audric Estimé rushed for 1,341 yards and a program-record 18 touchdowns to earn second-team All-America honors and become Notre Dame's first AP All-America running back since 1998. In 2024, Jeremiyah Love followed with 1,125 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns, averaging 6.9 yards per carry and ranking among the national leaders in both touchdowns and yards per carry.
In his first season with the Irish, McCullough immediately elevated the group as Estimé racked up 1,071 scrimmage yards, Logan Diggs 1,031 and Chris Tyree 582. Each averaged at least 4.4 yards per carry. Notre Dame rushed for 2,457 yards that season, the program's sixth-highest total since 1996.
Prior to his stint at Notre Dame, McCullough served as running backs coach at Indiana in 2021, helping Stephen Carr to a career year with 600 rushing yards and six touchdowns in nine games for the Hoosiers.
McCullough’s title also included “associate head coach” during his time at both Notre Dame and Indiana, bringing leadership experience that extends beyond his position room.
During three seasons with the NFL's Chiefs (2018-20), McCullough helped guide the franchise to three consecutive AFC Championship Games, back-to-back Super Bowl appearances and a victory in Super Bowl LIV. His running backs consistently ranked among league leaders in yards after contact, yards after catch and pass protection efficiency. Over three seasons, the group surrendered just four sacks, including zero in 2020. After the 2019 season, he was recognized as NFL Running Backs Coach of the Year at the NFL Scouting Combine.
McCullough coached multiple Pro Bowl and high-level performers in Kansas City, including Anthony Sherman, Kareem Hunt, Damien Williams, LeSean McCoy, Le'Veon Bell and Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who surpassed 1,000 yards from scrimmage as a rookie in 2020.
Before making the jump to the NFL, McCullough spent the 2017 season as run game coordinator and running backs coach at USC, helping the Trojans capture a Pac-12 Championship. Under his guidance, Ronald Jones registered 1,737 scrimmage yards and 20 touchdowns to earn All-America honors. He was selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
McCullough’s first stint at Indiana was from 2011-16 under head coach Kevin Wilson, who now serves as OU’s assistant head coach for offense. Those six seasons remain one of the most productive rushing eras in program history, as the Hoosiers set 19 school rushing records during the stretch. McCullough tutored Tevin Coleman (2015) and Jordan Howard (2016), who became the first IU running backs drafted in consecutive years since 1990-92. Coleman rushed for a school-record 2,036 yards in 2014 and earned unanimous All-America honors. In 2015, Howard (1,213 yards) and Devine Redding (1,012 yards) became the first Indiana running back duo to eclipse 1,000 yards in the same season. McCullough was named BTN.com Running Backs Coach of the Year in 2014.
He began his collegiate coaching career at Miami (Ohio) in 2010, helping the RedHawks win a MAC Championship.
A native of Youngstown, Ohio, McCullough was a standout running back at Miami (Ohio), earning three All-MAC selections and becoming the program's first MAC Freshman of the Year. He rushed for more than 4,300 career yards, led the team in rushing four consecutive seasons and was later inducted into the Miami Athletics Hall of Fame.
Following his college career, McCullough played professionally with the Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles and Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL. His career was cut short as the result of three ACL reconstructions in four seasons.
McCullough earned his degree in sociology from Miami (Ohio) in 1996. He and his wife, Darnell, have four sons: Deland II, Dasan, Daeh and Diem.
Since becoming a full-time running backs coach in 2011, McCullough has mentored backs who have produced 17 seasons of 1,000 or more yards from scrimmage. His units have excelled at every level — from record-setting college rushing attacks to championship-caliber NFL offenses.
McCullough spent the 2025 season with the Las Vegas Raiders, where rookie Ashton Jeanty totaled 1,321 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns, setting a franchise rookie record. McCullough’s ability to transition players from college systems into productive professional contributors has been a hallmark of his coaching career.
Prior to his time in the NFL, McCullough served three seasons at Notre Dame (2022-24), where his running backs room became one of the nation's most productive. In 2023, Audric Estimé rushed for 1,341 yards and a program-record 18 touchdowns to earn second-team All-America honors and become Notre Dame's first AP All-America running back since 1998. In 2024, Jeremiyah Love followed with 1,125 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns, averaging 6.9 yards per carry and ranking among the national leaders in both touchdowns and yards per carry.
In his first season with the Irish, McCullough immediately elevated the group as Estimé racked up 1,071 scrimmage yards, Logan Diggs 1,031 and Chris Tyree 582. Each averaged at least 4.4 yards per carry. Notre Dame rushed for 2,457 yards that season, the program's sixth-highest total since 1996.
Prior to his stint at Notre Dame, McCullough served as running backs coach at Indiana in 2021, helping Stephen Carr to a career year with 600 rushing yards and six touchdowns in nine games for the Hoosiers.
McCullough’s title also included “associate head coach” during his time at both Notre Dame and Indiana, bringing leadership experience that extends beyond his position room.
During three seasons with the NFL's Chiefs (2018-20), McCullough helped guide the franchise to three consecutive AFC Championship Games, back-to-back Super Bowl appearances and a victory in Super Bowl LIV. His running backs consistently ranked among league leaders in yards after contact, yards after catch and pass protection efficiency. Over three seasons, the group surrendered just four sacks, including zero in 2020. After the 2019 season, he was recognized as NFL Running Backs Coach of the Year at the NFL Scouting Combine.
McCullough coached multiple Pro Bowl and high-level performers in Kansas City, including Anthony Sherman, Kareem Hunt, Damien Williams, LeSean McCoy, Le'Veon Bell and Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who surpassed 1,000 yards from scrimmage as a rookie in 2020.
Before making the jump to the NFL, McCullough spent the 2017 season as run game coordinator and running backs coach at USC, helping the Trojans capture a Pac-12 Championship. Under his guidance, Ronald Jones registered 1,737 scrimmage yards and 20 touchdowns to earn All-America honors. He was selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
McCullough’s first stint at Indiana was from 2011-16 under head coach Kevin Wilson, who now serves as OU’s assistant head coach for offense. Those six seasons remain one of the most productive rushing eras in program history, as the Hoosiers set 19 school rushing records during the stretch. McCullough tutored Tevin Coleman (2015) and Jordan Howard (2016), who became the first IU running backs drafted in consecutive years since 1990-92. Coleman rushed for a school-record 2,036 yards in 2014 and earned unanimous All-America honors. In 2015, Howard (1,213 yards) and Devine Redding (1,012 yards) became the first Indiana running back duo to eclipse 1,000 yards in the same season. McCullough was named BTN.com Running Backs Coach of the Year in 2014.
He began his collegiate coaching career at Miami (Ohio) in 2010, helping the RedHawks win a MAC Championship.
A native of Youngstown, Ohio, McCullough was a standout running back at Miami (Ohio), earning three All-MAC selections and becoming the program's first MAC Freshman of the Year. He rushed for more than 4,300 career yards, led the team in rushing four consecutive seasons and was later inducted into the Miami Athletics Hall of Fame.
Following his college career, McCullough played professionally with the Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles and Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL. His career was cut short as the result of three ACL reconstructions in four seasons.
McCullough earned his degree in sociology from Miami (Ohio) in 1996. He and his wife, Darnell, have four sons: Deland II, Dasan, Daeh and Diem.
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