Ben Arbuckle’s journey to becoming Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and natural talent. From his high school days in Canadian, Texas, to his collegiate coaching stints at Washington State and Western Kentucky, Arbuckle has consistently demonstrated his ability to lead and innovate.
Arbuckle’s high school coach, Chris Koetting, recognized his potential early on, predicting that he would “do big things in football.” As a freshman quarterback, Arbuckle made an immediate impact, and his subsequent success on the field was matched by his leadership and mentoring skills. He helped develop younger quarterbacks, including Tanner Schafer, who later played at OU.
After high school, Arbuckle took a brief break from football before joining West Texas A&M’s program in 2016. Although he didn’t break records, his time there showcased his work ethic, competitiveness, and passion for the game. These traits have been essential to his success as a college coach.
Arbuckle’s coaching career began as an unpaid quality control assistant at Houston Baptist (now Houston Christian). He later became the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Seminole High School before landing his first paid college coaching job at Western Kentucky. His success there, particularly with the nation’s top passing offense in 2022, led to his appointment as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
In 2023, Arbuckle worked with Cam Ward at Washington State, producing a passing offense that ranked fourth nationally. The following year, he led an offense with John Mateer, who recently transferred to Oklahoma. The Cougars finished 2024 with 30 passing touchdowns, sixth in the nation.
Oklahoma coach Brent Venables praised Arbuckle as “one of the best offensive minds in the last several decades in college football.” Arbuckle’s track record speaks for itself, and his appointment as Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator is a significant coup for the program. As he seeks to breathe new life into the Sooners’ offense, Arbuckle’s unique blend of experience, innovation, and leadership makes him an exciting addition to the team.
