After a week without a new head coach, Oklahoma has hired Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables to replace Lincoln Riley as the Sooners’ new head coach.
Venables, a former defensive coordinator for the Oklahoma Sooners, was announced as a new coach by the university on Sunday. On Monday, there will be an official welcome ceremony.
One of the greatest days in college basketball history has come to an end for Oklahoma, the school’s athletic director Joe Castiglione said in a statement. Venables is a proven winner who has helped his teams win 13 conference championships and three national titles, and has developed one of the country’s most consistent defenses,” he said.
Several head coaching searches had targeted Venables in recent years after he helped Clemson win two national championships, but he chose to stay and become the highest-paid assistant in the country, earning $2.5 million a year. The fact that he had previously worked under Bob Stoops at the University of Oklahoma, where he led the team to a national championship in 2000, made the decision to accept this position much easier.
To help the Sooners prepare to leave the Big 12 for the SEC in 2023-2025, they have hired a new coach. Several key players from the 2022 and 2023 recruiting classes have de-committed since Riley’s surprise departure, raising doubts about the future of the program. Riley was 55-10 in his five seasons as head coach, including three trips to the College Football Playoff.
When it comes to taking on this new task, Venables is up for the task at hand.
No doubt, we’re ready to compete at the highest level and attract the best players from across the country, says Venables. “There has never been a better time to wear the OU logo.”
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