Brent Venables not comfortable with the new contract

On Friday, the Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma authorized a new six-year deal worth $51.6 million for football coach Brent Venables.

Venables will earn an average of $8.6 million per year for the term of the agreement, with a salary of $8.15 million in 2024, which includes $600,000 for retirement. Venables was about to start the third year of his initial fully guaranteed six-year, $43.5 million contract.

“We were proactive about contracts,” Oklahoma Athletic Director Joe Castiglione stated following the meeting. “Moving the contract for Coach Venables is an excellent illustration of this. What he’s been doing since he’s been on campus for two years is helping us transition into a new league and lay the groundwork for us to be successful in the future and pursue championships, just like all of the greatest teams are trying to do and competing against.”

Venables, who has a 16-10 record in two seasons, will begin his third season as head coach of the Sooners, who will play in the Southeastern Conference for the first time.

The new contract comes after Venables guided Oklahoma to a 10-3 record in 2023, including a 34-30 victory over then-No. 4 Texas. Venables has also signed three consecutive top-ten recruiting classes after taking over as Clemson’s defensive coordinator after ten seasons. He previously served as the Sooners’ defensive coordinator from 1999 until 2011.

“(Venables) is all about the importance of identifying the players that we need to be successful in the world in which we’re competing,” says Castiglione. “The culture that they’re adopting, the relationships that are formed, and the presence of great leaders not only benefits the team as a whole, but also, most significantly, in his perspective, positions them for future success in the world.

“Whether football might be involved in it beyond their college eligibility, or they’re headed into their livelihood.”

Other new contracts for Oklahoma coaches

Sooners women’s basketball coach Jennie Baranczyk was given an extension and a raise after leading the Sooners to two straight regular-season conference championships.

Baranczyk’s contract was extended until the 2029-2030 season, and her supplementary and outside income increased from $300,000 to $625,000.

OU men’s basketball coach Porter Moser was handed a $100,000 boost in supplemental and outside compensation, which was surprising given that he had failed to make the NCAA Tournament in his first three seasons. Castiglione attributed the rise to an expression of gratitude for Moser and his staff’s efforts.

“It was definitely important to show coach Moser that we appreciate him and what he’s providing in leadership,” Castiglione told me. “Of course, we were disappointed not getting into the NCAA tournament, but it took many anomalies that have not been seen in the days leading up to the NCAA tournament to keep us out.”

K.J. Kindler’s contract as Sooners women’s gymnastics coach has been extended until the 2031 season, and she will earn $1 million per year, including retirement payments.

Other football assistant contracts:

• Defensive ends coach Miguel Chavis’ contract was extended through the 2026 season and his outside income was increased from $365,000 to $405,000.
• Running backs coach DeMarco Murray’s contract was extended through the 2026 season and his outside income was increased from $290,000 to $515,000. And beginning in 2025, that total will be $565,000 before moving to $590,000 in 2026. Murray was reportedly offered a deal to leave Norman for the same position at Ohio State.