In my opinion, the most underrated assistant coach in the Big 12 is Oklahoma State co-offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Joe Wickline. Wickline came to Oklahoma State from Florida with Lee Fedora when Mike Gundy replaced Les Miles as the Oklahoma St. head coach. Since his arrival in 2005, Oklahoma State's worst finish in conference in rushing has been fifth, and that was in 2005, his first season. In 2006 they finished #1 in the conference in rushing offense, averaging 208 yds per game. That was good enough to rank 7th nationally in rushing offense, and 16th nationally in total offense (409.8 yds per game, #4 in Big 12 in total offense). In 2007, Oklahoma State was again #1 in the Big 12 in rushing offense (243.2 yds per game) and ranked #8 nationally. The Cowboys finished the season ranked #7 nationally in total offense (486.3 yds per game), and this was despite switching starting QBs. After the 2007 season, offensive coordinator Lee Fedora became the head coach at Southern Mississippi, and Wickline was promoted to co-offensive coordinator-running game. In 2008, Oklahoma State again led the Big 12 in rushing, averaging 245.5 yds per game, the only team in the conference to average over 200 yds per game rushing. State also finished ranked #8 in the nation in rushing offense and #3 in the conference in total offense (487.7 yds per game). Despite changing offensive coordinators, Oklahoma State improved on their numbers from the previous year.

Wickline also excels at developing players. Wickline moved Charlie Johnson from TE to OT when he arrived at OSU; Johnson became the first Oklahoma State lineman drafted in 21 YEARS when he was drafted in the 6th round by the Colts in 2006. After the 2006 season, New England drafted unanimous All-Big 12 OT Corey Hilliard in the 7th round. In 2008, TE Brandon Pettigrew blossomed into a first round draft pick; he was taken with the 20th pick of the first round by the Detroit Lions. Going into the 2009 season, LT Russell Okung is projected as a 1st round draft pick. Okung has started on OSU's offensive line since his freshman season in 2006. If Okung is drafted, this means OSU will have gone from having no offensive linemen drafted in 21 years to having four drafted in the five years Wickline has been in Stillwater. That is pretty impressive any way you look at it.

Wickline has been able to build stellar offensive lines despite having to recruit against Oklahoma for in-state talent. He has succeeded by going outside Oklahoma to find linemen (Okung is from Fort Bend, TX, Pettigrew is from Tyler, TX, Hilliard is from New Orleans, LA), and by putting them in a scheme that is simple but effective (OSU's zone scheme only requires offensive linemen to recognize three players to find their blocking assignment).

Wickline's success at Oklahoma State has been obvious, but he has been overshadowed by James Patton at Oklahoma, Mac McWhorter at texas, and others. Since the media doesn't give Wickline the credit he deserves, he is my pick for the most underrated assistant coach in the Big 12 Conference.