Brent Venables explains balancing recruiting Clemson, Oklahoma during coaching search

As Brent Venables was in talks to become Oklahoma’s head coach, he had to balance recruiting for Clemson at the same time. That’s a lot to balance, and he discussed that on National Signing Day.

Venables was Clemson’s defensive coordinator since 2012 and was a big part of recruiting. As Oklahoma’s interest picked up, he had to keep on course with his recruiting for Clemson despite potentially leaving for Norman.

“After I’d initially been contacted, I did hit the road recruiting with every intention of being the defensive coordinator at Clemson but trying to be up-front and honest in regards to my interest and some of the communication that had taken place,” Venables told reporters Wednesday. “I think that’s just the way you do things, just try to be up-front and honest.

“To me, Clemson’s an easy sell. That’s what I tried to do. There are so many reasons, we don’t have time in this press conference to talk about what makes that place so great. Taking me out of the equation is what I’m talking about and what makes it so great. So that was easy for me. Again, [I was] every bit as invested there at the time in Clemson University and Coach Swinney, how good he’s been to me and our family, so I felt it was the very least that I could do was continue to help Clemson through that time and the speculation, it’s important for me to get in front of them and continue to support of their opportunity there and their future there.”

Brent Venables on what it was like seeing recruits de-commit after he left Clemson

After Venables’ departure, some recruits de-committed. He opened up about what it was like seeing those players he recruited have second thoughts about going to Clemson.

“That was hurtful for me,” Venbales said. “I know … the need that they have for those young guys. Clemson doesn’t just keep recruiting when they get a commitment. Some places just keep recruiting, if they can get a better guy, they’ll just address it down the road. They might have to tell a guy, ‘Hey, we don’t have a spot for you,’ and guys are left without scholarships. That’s not how Coach Swinney handles his business. By being upfront and honest and doing things the right way, sometimes that can hurt you in this game. Overall, they’ll serve you well.

“That’s really kind of how it went down over the last week there with them, and I’ve even spoke to a few guys after the de-committed just to say, ‘Hey, you need to rethink this’ and just try to help them and just to hopefully be another source that could bring a little clarity in a very difficult process for both the prospects and for the universities. I’ve not tried to continue to quote-unquote ‘recruit’ guys. I’ve got my relationship with coach Swinney goes so much further than the football field. He’s family to me. The rest of the staff there’s family to me.”