Schmidt has been a staple for the Sooners since Bob Stoops ' arrival in 1999. Schmidt had worked with Stoops at Florida since 1996 and was one of Stoops' first hires when he took OU's head coaching job.

Schmidt is heading to take a similar job at Texas A&M under new coach Jimbo Fisher , The Oklahoman has confirmed.

Schmidt's departure follows closely on the heels of Texas A&M's hiring of Jerry Montgomery to coach on the defensive line for the Aggies.

Montgomery spent two seasons in a similar role at Oklahoma, building a reputation as a strong recruiter and being elevated to co-defensive coordinator not long before leaving for a job with the Green Bay Packers in 2015.

Schmidt was often brought up by players as a reason for their success and development and was often their most regular contact with the staff during the offseason.

He outlasted Stoops, who retired last offseason. After serving a year under Lincoln Riley, Schmidt is headed to College Station, Texas.