Brent Venables gives his mindset as a coach: 'I've been fighting for my job every year'

Oklahoma finished the 2024 college football season 6-7 for the second time in three years under head coach Brent Venables. Despite having one 10-win season under his belt, 2025 could be a pivotal one for Venables and his future with the program.

Heading into the spring season, Venables revealed a unique perspective on how he approaches each season as a coach — and how that mindset has never changed through his 30-year coaching career.

“I’ve been fighting for my job every year like somebody’s holding me out of the water trying to drown me,” Venables told the media on Wednesday. “And that’s been my mindset, that’s been my attitude when I come to work every day. So, nothing’s changing for me.

“Do we need to be better? You’re damn right. Does your mindset have to change? Nope.”

In November when the Sooners weren’t yet bowl eligible, Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione said that the Sooners hadn’t met the “Oklahoma standard,” but noted his complete support in Venables as the Sooners coach in 2025. OU president Joe Harroz followed that up, saying that his confidence in Venables is “unwavering right now.”

The next game out, the Sooners went and defeated Alabama 24-3 in Norman to become bowl eligible. However, they would lose the regular season finale against LSU and then in the Armed Forces Bowl against Navy.

Venables is aware that the Sooners need to perform at a higher level moving forward.

“Every year is big, and for me, I know I’ve said that [before],” Venables continued. “I think people are like, ‘Well, that’s just coach speak.’ But I go back to my first year, and Bill Snyder hired me on an interim basis.

You ever been hired on an interim basis, where basically, they said your job’s on the line? ‘I’m watching everything you do, and your first screw up, there’s no guarantee, and I’m also going to pay you pennies.’ Well, that was my first time, and I was so thankful. But I’ve literally had that mindset my entire career. Every game is that way. Every day I show up, something’s on the line. My job is on the line. I’ve had that for 30 years.”

Oklahoma will kick off its new season at home against Illinois State on Aug. 30. Their 2025 college football schedule features the likes of Michigan in the non-conference, as well as SEC foes Texas, Tennessee, Alabama and South Carolina, among others.