Former Ohio State QB Coach Corey Dennis Joins Tulsa Coaching Staff; Dominique Franks Promoted to Cornerback Coach

TULSA, Okla. –– University of Tulsa Head Football Coach Kevin Wilson announced today the addition of Corey Dennis to the Golden Hurricane coaching staff, while also promoting Dominque Franks to cornerback coach.

Dennis spent nine seasons on the Ohio State coaching staff before serving the last month as an offensive analyst at Ole Miss. Franks, who played his prep football at Tulsa Union and collegiately at Oklahoma, served the past season as a defensive analyst for the Hurricane, working with the secondary.

Dennis, who coached the quarterbacks the last four years with the Buckeyes, will serve as passing game coordinator and quarterback coach. His appointment fills the open spot created when offensive line coach Ryan Stanchek moved to UTEP as co-Offensive Coordinator, while Franks replaces Michael Hunter, who joined the Ohio State coaching staff.

In addition, Wilson announced that Steve Spurrier Jr. will serve as associate head coach adding to his role as Tulsa's offensive coordinator. Spurrier will now coach the running backs. Greg Frey moves from coaching tight ends to the offensive line and Adrian Mayes moves from running backs to tight ends coach, while also serving as run game coordinator.

Receivers coach Ryan Switzer will now also serve as the Golden Hurricane recruiting coordinator. Defensively, Joe Bolden adds the responsibility of co-Defensive Coordinator Run Game in addition to coaching the Jack position and serving as special team's coordinator.

"We are fortunate to add Corey Dennis to our coaching staff. I had the opportunity to work with Corey for six years at Ohio State and know him very well, personally and professionally. Corey is the guy I pursued as the best coach to join our staff. I focused our search on him knowing that our offensive staff had flexibility to move to their natural positions they've coached previously. Corey's strength coaching quarterbacks will be a huge asset to our team," said Wilson.

"Dom is a natural fit for us. He's a local guy who had a great playing career. My time with Dom goes back to his recruitment as a high school player and then being around him at Oklahoma. When we brought Dom on as an analyst last year, I expected he would do well and have an opportunity within 1-2 years to become a position coach either at Tulsa or somewhere else. He's done a great job for us. He knows our defense and has a lot of respect from the players and coaches. I'm very happy with the job he's done and look forward to him continuing as our cornerback coach."

Dennis began his tenure at Ohio State in 2015 as an intern before spending the 2016-17 campaigns as a graduate assistant coach. He was elevated to a senior quality control coach position with the football program in July 2018. In that position, Dennis had increased off-field coaching responsibility in the areas of game planning, practice planning and daily organization with both the wide receiver and quarterback units.

Dennis worked the 2018 and '19 seasons with Ryan Day and the OSU quarterbacks, and the two seasons before that with the Buckeyes' receivers. He became an integral part in some of the most celebrated offensive campaigns in Ohio State history. Dennis was appointed as the Buckeyes' quarterback coach in January 2020.

During his OSU tenure, three Ohio State quarterbacks– Dwayne Haskins in 2018, Justin Fields in 2019 and C.J. Stroud in 2021 – became Heisman Trophy finalists as well as Big Ten Quarterback and Player of the Year. In August of 2021, Dennis was named to 247Sports 30-Under-30 list of rising young coaches.

Dennis was a part of four consecutive Big Ten Conference championship teams at Ohio State and victories in the 2022 Rose Bowl, 2020 Fiesta Bowl, 2019 Rose Bowl, 2018 Cotton Bowl and the 2016 Fiesta Bowl.

A native of Auburn, Alabama, Dennis played collegiately at Georgia Tech, where he was a wide receiver, played in the defensive secondary and was a key special team's performer between 2011-14. He finished his career by playing in all 54 games for Tech teams that won two ACC Coastal Division titles and played in four bowl games.

Franks was an all-state performer at Tulsa Union High School and played cornerback at Oklahoma (2006-09). He played a pivotal role for the Sooners run to the national championship game in 2008. Franks completed his college career with 95 tackles and six interceptions.

A Tulsa native, Franks was a fifth-round draft selection by the Atlanta Falcons in 2010, Franks spent four seasons (2010-13) with the Falcons and part of the 2014 season with the Baltimore Ravens.

Following his playing career, Franks coached two years at nearby Owasso (Okla.) High School before spending the 2022 season coaching defensive backs with the USFL's New Jersey Generals.

OFFENSIVE STAFF
Steve Spurrier Jr. – Associate Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator & Running Backs
Corey Dennis – Passing Game Coordinator & Quarterbacks
Greg Frey – Offensive Line
Adrian Mayes – Run Game Coordinator & Tight Ends
Ryan Switzer – Wide Receivers & Recruiting Coordinator

DEFENSIVE STAFF
Chris Polizzi – Defensive Coordinator & Safeties
Ron Burton – Assistant Head Coach & Defensive Line
Joe Bolden – Co-Defensive Coordinator Run Game, Special Teams Coordinator & Jacks
Dominique Franks – Cornerbacks
Koy McFarland – Linebackers

Former Ohio State QB Coach Corey Dennis Joins Tulsa Coaching Staff; Dominique Franks Promoted to Cornerback Coach

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