In 1973, Switzer became the head coach of Oklahoma, leading the team to undefeated seasons that year and the next. Oklahoma won national championships in 1974, 1975 and 1985 under Switzer's leadership. The team won or shared in the Big 8 championship every year from 1973 to 1980. During his sixteen years as head coach at Oklahoma, his teams won eight of the thirteen post-season bowl games they played in, and 54 of his players were selected as All-Americans. 

He is one of four coaches to win over 100 games at the University of Oklahoma. No other college football program has more than three coaches to accomplish such a feat. In 1994, Switzer became the coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Switzer stepped in following the departure of Jimmy Johnson, who as head coach had won the previous two Super Bowls. Switzer was successful with the Cowboys, going 12-4 his first season in 1994. In Switzer's second season of 1995, the team went 12-4. Dallas won Super Bowl XXX over the Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-17.

Switzer was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2004, he received the Jim Thorpe Lifetime Achievement Award. In August 2007, XMSN added Barry Switzer as a part of the channel's expanded college sports coverage and also joined the FOX NFL Pregame show.