Oklahoma interim head coach Bob Stoops celebrates with Oklahoma running back Kennedy Brooks (26) after a touchdown during the first half of the Alamo Bowl NCAA college football game against Oregon, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

While guiding the Oklahoma Sooners football program from 1999 to 2016, he was affectionately known as Big Game Bob.

This past weekend, Valley native and Youngstown Cardinal Mooney alum Bob Stoops lived up to the nickname which suggests he is at his coaching best while in the spotlight.

On Saturday Stoops guided the Arlington Renegades to an XFL title, defeating the D.C. Defenders 35-26 in the league’s championship game played at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

Arlington entered the playoffs with a 4-6 record. The Defenders, 9-1 in the regular season, were an 8.5-point favorite in the title game.

“We were an up-and-down team early in the year, mostly because of an inconsistent offense,” Stoops said. “We had no rhythm on offense, but we traded for a quarterback and some other playmakers throughout the course of the season and things began to click.

“Defensively, we were pretty strong all year long. Once we got all the pieces in place and we got on the same page on offense, I knew we had a chance to make a nice run.”

In Saturday’s title game, Arlington raced out to a 14-0 first-quarter lead and never looked back. Renegades quarterback Luis Perez was named the game’s MVP after completing 26-of-36 passes for 288 yards and three touchdowns.

“Luis really was the missing piece that turned things around for us offensively this year,” Stoops said.

Ironically, Stoops won the XFL title in the same stadium in which he logged his last official college victory. In 2021, Stoops led Oklahoma to a 47-32 win over Oregon in the Alamo Bowl. Stoops was serving as the Sooners’ interim coach following the resignation of Lincoln Riley, who left Oklahoma at the end of the regular season.

During his tenure at Oklahoma, Stoops’ teams posted a 191-48 record. His resume includes a National Title and ten Big 12 titles. His teams appeared in bowl games in each of his 18 years at Oklahoma.

Stoops earned the “Big Game Bob” moniker early in his career. From 1999-2003 his teams went 18-2 against ranked opponents and 3-1 in bowl games with a national title.

Stoops stepped down from Oklahoma in June of 2017. His name has since repeatedly surfaced when major colleges are seeking a head coach.

“I’ve been contacted a number of times, I’m still asked to come back by various schools,” Stoops said. “I think some athletic directors just feel obligated to check the box and say they tried. But I’m happy, I’m content with where I’m at in my life.”

Stoops coached Arlington in 2020, but the league halted play early in the season because of the COVID pandemic. He chose to return to the franchise when the league reorganized this past spring.

“I’m always asked why the XFL, but I love what I’m doing because it’s just football,” Stoops said. “No recruiting, no compliance meetings, no babysitting players. I’m just coaching football, which I love to do, and I still have time with my family. Plus, the XFL season runs during the worst three golfing months of the year.

“It’s just a really good fit.”

While Stoops acknowledges that “you never know about tomorrow,” he says his current plan is to return to the Renegades sideline in 2024.

“This year was fun, and the league is heading in the right direction,” Stoops said. “St. Louis drew almost 40,000 fans per home game. D.C. was averaging 20,000 fans a game and we had roughly 12,000 to 15,000 at our games.

“The television market is strong, and things should only go up from here.”

Stoops said he celebrated Saturday’s win “with a cigar and drinks with family and friends.” He then spent the rest of the weekend returning to his roots. On Monday, Stoops took part in the Annika Fore East Palestine golf outing, benefitting the East Palestine residents affected by February’s train derailment.

Monday’s event was held at The Lake Club in Poland.