Brent Venables, Oklahoma agree to 2-year contract extension
By Ethan Stone
Published:
The Oklahoma Sooners and head coach Brent Venables have agreed to a new 6-year contract that adds 2 years to his current deal and keeps Venables in Norman through the 2031 season. The deal is worth an average of $10.5 million per year, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Venables has been at Oklahoma since 2022 and led the Sooners to the College Football Playoff last season, despite QB John Mateer playing through an injured thumb.
“I believe strongly in Coach Venables, in the culture he has built and in the structure we have in place around our football program,” Oklahoma AD Roger Denny said via release on Thursday. “There simply isn’t a better ambassador for Oklahoma Football than Brent Venables. He represents this university and our program with incredible passion and authenticity, and I’m excited to continue building with him. Adding two years to his contract gives us the stability and continuity we need as we pursue championships for all of Sooner Nation.”
Here’s what Venables had to say:
“”It is truly an honor and a privilege to serve as the head coach at the University of Oklahoma and to represent a place with such a proud tradition, an incredibly passionate and loyal fan base and expectations that match our own.”
“This opportunity and commitment reflect so many people,” Venables said. “None of it would be possible without the tremendous investment, hard work and dedication of our players, coaches and staff. I’m incredibly thankful for each of them and for the belief they have in what we are building together. Most importantly, my family and I love Oklahoma. This is our home, and we are deeply grateful for the way the Oklahoma family has embraced and supported us.”
There’s some optimism heading into Year 5 for Venables. The Sooners should return one of the SEC’s best defenses, and Mateer is back to 100% and looking to get back to his 2025 early-season form.
The Sooners are going to be tested immediately. Oklahoma travels to the Big House in Week 2 to face off against Michigan, then opens SEC play 2 weeks later at Georgia. The Sooners then get a bye to prepare for their Red River Rivalry clash against Texas on Oct. 10.
Ethan Stone is a Saturday Down South News Editor and an advocate for the return of the Seattle Supersonics.
