Joe Castiglione hopes to leave Oklahoma on an 'upward trajectory' when he retires

Joe Castiglione is closing in on completing his third decade at the helm of the Oklahoma athletic department, having served as the athletic director in Norman since July 1998. And though the man in charge has plenty left in the tank, he is considerate of what he’d like things to look like when he does hang it up.

And for Castiglione, the hope is that all things Sooners can not only maintain success, but continue achieving at higher and higher levels.

“But I hope when the time comes that I leave Oklahoma in the best position possible,” Castiglione said. “That’s my dream, to leave Oklahoma with an upward trajectory that just greatness is still up on the ladder. We’re doing great but we’re continuing to climb and whoever I get to hand it off to, they continue to take it even farther. But that you can come back and be part of what’s developed and the relationships that are here, those aren’t going to go away, whether it’s the coaches, the former athletes, actually you’re really never a former athlete, you’re just an athlete.”

Castiglione’s tenure in Norman has been a highly successful one, one of the most fruitful stretches for any athletic program in memory for college athletics. In 26 years at the helm, Castiglione has seen the Sooners win 24 team national championships — out of the 43 in school history — and secured 110 conference titles.

That includes a national championship in football, plus dynastic runs for the men’s and women’s gymnastics programs and the dominance of the Sooner softball program of late.

And for now, Castiglione isn’t really looking to leave, even if it’s in the back of his mind.

“But the fanbase, that’s special, everything. My kids were raised here, one of them was born here. Joe was only a year and a half when we moved here. So we loved Norman, it’s a great quality of life. Obviously being part of the university, I don’t see any reason why you would want to leave it,” Castiglione said.

When he does finally pack it up as athletic director in Norman, though, the south Florida native and his wife, Kristen, have designs on what they’d like to do with their days.

“As we all know, coaches, ADs, we’re engaged, 24/7, 365 days a year,” Castiglione said. “We really are. Even on vacation things happen. They get blown up, often. So there is a part of me and of course my wife Kristen and I have talked about this, too, that we’d like to have some time in the year where maybe you’re in the mountains or you’re — I’m born in south Florida so I love the water and beach. So somewhere where you have a little bit of variety.”