Brent Venables 'Thankful, Grateful' for Oklahoma's Commitment in Contract Extension

NORMAN — When news broke that the University of Oklahoma had extended Brent Venables’ contract, it was met with confusion from some national observers and gratitude from others.

Count Venables as one of the grateful.

"I’m incredibly thankful and grateful for a contract extension and all the people who are responsible," Venables said after practice on Friday.

It was a process that began in December, following the end of Oklahoma's 2025 season. In the current age of college football where players, whole rosters and even head coaches appear like one-year rentals across the country, OU opted for stability.

Oklahoma Sooners, Brent Venables — Oklahoma coach Brent Venables looks on during one of OU's elite prospect camps. | Carson Field / Sooners On S

"Starting with Roger Denny, President (Joseph) Harroz, Randall Stephenson and certainly the Board of Trustees. It’s been a discussion since December, and here we are in August, but those things take some time," Venables said.

Some of the questioning surrounding Venables' contract extension was due to timing — simply, why now? Why right before a season where the Sooners look to face four AP top-10 opponents for the first time in school history?

Again, stabillity won the day.

"It sends a message of alignment," Venables said. "The best, most successful programs, both short- and long-term, have tremendous alignment, belief and a great vision. They understand there are choppy waters out there and what it takes to build things the right way."

The alignment talk echoes Venables' former boss in Norman, Bob Stoops, whenever he was asked how OU was able to sustain success for so long during his tenure. Stoops would often cite the alignment between he and former athletic director Joe Castiglione and former university president David Boren.

One of the hopes behind this sturdier foundation is that current and prospective players see Oklahoma as a place they can depend on for consistency amid so much turmoil.

"In this day and age of disruption and a lack of continuity, stability is a fantastic thing, and I’m thankful to have that," Venables said. "It sends a message to our locker room, recruits and the fan base, which is more in tune with what is going on day to day than ever before."

Now that these talks are in the rearview mirror, it's easy to assume where Venables' focus now lies.

"My focus was on getting our staff right and making sure the staff that’s going to bring out the best in the players day in and day out and help us do this at a really high level was taken care of," he said.

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