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Oklahoma Board of Regents OKs Contracts for New Football Coaches, Extensions

The Sooners' new defensive coordinator Zac Alley and new special teams analyst Doug Deakin had their contracts approved by the OU Board of Regents on Tuesday.

Brent Venables' new assistants have new contracts. And two of his veteran staffers have new extensions.

The Oklahoma Board of Regents on Tuesday approved several contracts for Brent Venables' staff heading into the 2024 spring.

New defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Zac Alley got a three-year contract averaging $900,000 a year. Alley will receive $850,000 this year and has a $50,000 annual increase built in. Former defensive coordinator Ted Roof in 2022 received a three-year deal worth $3.45 million, including $1.1 million in 2022, $1.15 million in 2023 and $1.2 million in 2024. Roof's contract was not renewed for the 2024 season.

New special teams analyst Doug Deakin got a one-year contract for $180,000. Former special teams analyst Jay Nunez was hired in 2022 at $110,000 a year, and in 2023 got a raise to $250,000. Nunez took the special teams coordinator job at Alabama this offseason. 

Extensions were also approved for offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh and defensive line coach Todd Bates. 

Bedenbaugh got a $180,000 raise to $1.05 million a year and a one-year extension on a contract that now runs through January 2027, and he'll get raises in 2025 to $1.2 million and 2026 to $1.25 million. He's the program's first non-coordinator or head coach to make more than $1 million.

Bates got a $100,000 raise to $800,000 a year on a contract that runs through January 2027. Bates also gets $50,000 stay bonuses on Feb. 1, 2025 and Feb. 1, 2026.

The Sooners' total salary pool for Venables' 10 on-field position coaches is now up to $7.839 million a year.

Oklahoma Assistant Coaches Contracts

NOTE: Bedenbaugh and Bates received contract extensions and Alley and Deakin received new contracts on Tuesday. All other contracts were approved by the OU Board of Regents in January.

  • QB coach/offensive coordinator Seth Littrell: $1.1m, contract through January 2027.
  • LB coach/defensive coordinator Zac Alley: $900,000, contract through January 2027.
  • TE coach/co-offensive coordinator Joe Jon Finley: from $520,000 to $900,000 and extended through January 2027.
  • DL coach/assistant head coach/co-defensive coordinator Todd Bates: from $700,000 to $800,000, through January 2027.
  • CB-Nickel coach/assistant head coach for defense/co-defensive coordinator Jay Valai: from $700,000 to $750,000, extended through January 2026.
  • WR coach/passing game coordinator Emmett Jones: from $550,000 to $664,000, extended through January 2026.
  • OL coach Bill Bedenbaugh: from $870,000 to $1.05 million, extended through January 2027.
  • DE coach Miguel Chavis: from $600,000 to $650,000, extended through January 2026.
  • RB coach DeMarco Murray: from $500,000 to $575,000, extended through January 2026.
  • DB coach Brandon Hall: from $350,000 to $500,000, extended through January 2026.
  • Director of Sports Enhancement and Strength and Conditioning coach Jerry Schmidt: from $650,000 to $700,000 and extended through January 2026.
  • Special teams analyst Doug Deakin: Received a one-year, $180,000 contract.