Joe Castiglione credits Brent Venables' aggressiveness as a factor in his extension

Oklahoma football coach Brent Venables is locked up for the long term after receiving a six-year extension to keep him through 2029. The decision comes ahead of the Sooners’ move to the SEC in 2024 and shows their commitment to what the coach has been building in Norman.

Following a 6-7 inaugural season, Venables directed OU to a 10-3 record this past season. That included a 34-30 win in the Red River Rivalry against Texas and shows growth for the Sooners heading into future seasons.

Speaking on the extension, Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione revealed that the way Venables has adapted to the current world of college athletics is a major reason.

“It’s a big part of the extension,” he said. “He is all about the importance of identifying the players that we need to be successful in the world in which we’re competing. The culture that they’re coming to, the relationships that are built. Having strong leaders that not only can help the team overall, but in the locker room. Most importantly in his world is setting them up for future success in the world going forward whether football might be involved in it beyond their college eligibility or they’re headed into their livelihood.

“So for us, we talk about all the different aspects of recruiting. Yes, the NIL support. But just the support of what this whole mission and the purpose and values that are provided — and the experiences that we create for the players to develop. He really believes in that.”

Venables has been active in the transfer portal during his tenure at OU. The Sooners ranked No. 25 in 2023 and No. 26 this offseason according to On3’s Transfer Portal Rankings. They also signed the The No. 9 overall recruiting class highlighted by defensive lineman David Stone.

More importantly, the coach is attempting to recruit the right type of players that fit his system. An identity and style is at the forefront of everything the Sooners do, all the way down to how they perform in the classroom.

“May I say that it’s having a fantastic impact,” Catiglione said. “The football team’s GPA this semester was the highest in history. The football team’s never hit a 3.0 since I’ve been here. …You can see that they’re growing and developing and really having success in a lot of different aspects in their life. Not just in the competition, which we understand is vitally important, too. But we want them to be positioned overall as a great young man and people that are going to be successful.”

Oklahoma is set to open up the 2024 season on Aug. 30 against Temple in Norman. The Sooners will play their first SEC game on Sept. 21 against Tennessee, where they will square off against former OU quarterback turned Vols head coach Josh Heupel.