Pelini joins staff at Oklahoma

NORMAN, Okla., Jan. 18 (UPI) -- Bo Pelini, who was bypassed for the Nebraska coaching job, has been hired as the defensive coordinator of the school's most hated rival.

Pelini replaces Mike Stoops, who left the Sooners to become head coach at Arizona, and is reunited with Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops, a fellow native of Youngstown, Ohio whose father coached Pelini at Cardinal Mooney High School.

"I have known Bo for a long time and know the kind of quality person that he is," Bob Stoops said. "That, combined with his coaching experience, makes him a great addition to our staff."

Pelini, 36, who also has been an NFL assistant coach, spent one season as defensive coordinator at Nebraska and was named interim coach last November after Frank Solich was fired.

Under Pelini, the Cornhuskers beat Michigan State, 17-3, in the Alamo Bowl. He was interviewed for the full-time coaching job, but Nebraska hired former Oakland Raiders coach Bill Callahan earlier this month.