Brent Venables is confident that the Sooners have limitless potential
Oklahoma Sooners head football coach Brent Venables has made significant strides since taking over the program in December 2021. When he was hired, he faced the challenge of rebuilding the team in his vision after the abrupt departure of his predecessor. Many fans underestimated just how extensive this rebuild would be. Venables believed the Sooners had strayed from the toughness, physicality, and discipline that once defined them as a premier college football program.
His first season was disappointing, with the Sooners finishing 6-7, their worst record in the 21st century. A year ago, many questioned Venables’ direction for the program in Norman. However, a 10-3 season in 2023 silenced many critics, as the team improved across the board. While the season had its highs, such as a victory over Texas in the Red River Rivalry, unfocused and error-prone play in losses to Kansas and Oklahoma State kept the Sooners from the College Football Playoff and the Big 12 Championship Game. Instead, they settled for an Alamo Bowl appearance, which ended in a turnover-heavy loss to Arizona, with a new starting quarterback and offensive coordinators.
Venables made it clear that the Sooners still had plenty of room for growth.
As Oklahoma enters the SEC, the toughest conference in college football, they must continue their upward trajectory in 2024. The challenge will be significant, but Venables, hired with this move in mind, has been preparing for over two years. His focus is on competing for championships in 2024 and beyond.
With a veteran defense leading the way and a young, talented offense with great potential, the Sooners are poised to improve again this season. Venables knows that special teams must also get better. While there are concerns about the new coordinators, roster depth, and the schedule, the Sooners have the pieces to take another step forward. Venables himself feels he has grown since the beginning of this journey.
In a recent appearance on the SEC Network’s “Marty and McGee,” Venables discussed his decision to finally step into a head coaching role after a long and successful tenure as an assistant at Kansas State, Oklahoma, and Clemson.
“I’ve always had this stance: If you have what you’ve always valued, don’t screw it up,” Venables said. “Too often, we chase the next raise, title, or promotion, making it about ourselves and comparing our careers to others. When you have an amazing quality of life, don’t mess it up. For me, it took a lot for my wife Julie and our family to make a pivot, but I’ve always been a people person.”
Venables credited his relationships and confidence in Oklahoma’s leadership, particularly athletic director Joe Castiglione and university president Joseph Harroz Jr., for bringing him back to Norman.
“So, when this opportunity came, I felt a sense of peace because of my past experiences and the confidence I had in the leadership here,” Venables said. “I knew that if I was going to be successful as a head coach, I wanted to love what I do, where I do it, and who I do it with. And with Oklahoma, it was like check, check, check. I’ve always known there are no limits to what Oklahoma can achieve. This is the standard in college football.”
Venables was highly sought after by other programs following his successful defensive stints at Oklahoma and Clemson. At OU, he was co-defensive coordinator for the 2000 national championship team and the 2003 squad that played for a national title. He was also the solo defensive coordinator for the 2004 and 2008 teams that competed for national championships. Venables contributed to seven of Bob Stoops’ ten conference titles at Oklahoma.
At Clemson, his defenses played a key role in the Tigers’ rise to national prominence, winning two national titles (2016 and 2018) and appearing in two more national championship games (2015 and 2019). The Swinney-Venables partnership also led to six conference titles in ten years.
Although many programs pursued Venables to become their head coach, he stayed put until Oklahoma came calling. Now, over two and a half years later, he has the Sooners on the rise again, reshaping the roster in his image after a necessary rebuild following Lincoln Riley’s tenure.
Venables and Oklahoma agreed to a two-year contract extension this offseason, a clear indication that both sides believe they have the right person to lead the Sooners into the SEC. Venables is eager to take on that challenge.
