Oklahoma loses Executive Director of Football Administration Thad Turnipseed

Brent Venables took on a big project when he took over Oklahoma. A program left stunned by the departure of Lincoln Riley to USC, Venables was going to come back to Norman and make sure the ship kept sailing. Of course, he was never going to do it alone, having Thad Turnipseed by his side.

Turnipseed made the journey to Oklahoma with Venables from Clemson, hoping to continue the great winning tradition of the Sooners. He served as the program’s Executive Director of Football Administration.

However, according to On3’s SoonerScoop, Turnipseed has stepped away from the program in order to spend time with his family.

“Thad Turnipseed is no longer employed at the university,” an Oklahoma official told SoonerScoop. “He has notified Coach Venables that he intends to spend more time with his family.”

Turnipseed was originally given a two-year contract by Oklahoma, making $350,000 a year and still having time left. A resignation was handed in by the former Executive Director of Football Administration, leaving mixed reactions around the program.

“Another source close to the situation portrayed the departure as a resignation,” SoonerScoop’s Carey Murdock said in his report. “And reactions to Turnipseed inside the football offices have been mixed according to conversations we have had with numerous university sources.”

The vision from Venables and Turnipseed was a large one, wanting to become a dynasty in college football. Whether that was in the Big 12 or in the SEC, Oklahoma wanted to replicate want Alabama has been able to do in Tuscaloosa.

“Right now, my focus is building the greatest dynasty in the history of college football,” Turnipseed said via SoonerScoop’s Bob Przybylo in March of 2022. “I think with Brent, the tools we have here, get that alignment, we can be the new Alabama.”

Turnipseed may not be involved with the program anymore but Venables is going to keep the vision alive of making Oklahoma a dynasty. While things may have gotten off to a rough start in the 2022 season, everyone in Norman is confident Venables is the right man for the job.

A move to the SEC will make things more interesting, coming ahead of the 2024 season. Oklahoma got a look at what a future schedule will look like, facing some of the SEC’s top programs. Venables and the remaining staff he has on campus will be ready for the challenge and hope to excel.