Oklahoma Regents Expected to Approve $250m for Football, Plus Other Athletics Facilities
The University of Oklahoma Board of Regents on Monday announced the agenda for this week’s board meeting in Norman, revealing a startup cost of $250 million for the forthcoming Football Operations Facilities and the Student Athlete Success Center.
The football-specific operations facility has a price tag of $175 million. The success center, which will be utilized daily by all OU athletes, is priced at $75 million.
Funding for the two projects, and numerous other costs impacting athletic facilities improvement, has been identified in full or in part, the agenda shows.
Regents on Tuesday will also discuss and review compensation and contract terms for the OU football staff, and “make any necessary adjustments.” Brent Venables and his 10 full-time assistant coaches were 6-7 in their first season in Norman last year.
Also, a chart posted in the agenda shows OU's net athletic department revenue dropped from $72.1 million in 2021 to $68.9 million in 2022.
Regents will also discuss "matters concerning the University of Oklahoma's athletics conference membership, and any associated contracts, documents or settlements."
In addition to the football facilities upgrades, improvements, expansions and renovations of other sport facilities will discussed as well: baseball’s L. Dale Mitchell Park ($45 million), softball’s Love’s Field $47.9 million), the Sam Viersen Gymnastics Center ($13.75 million), the Mosier Indoor track facility ($5 million), the Wadley Indoor Tennis Pavilion and Heading Family Tennis Center ($8.3 million), the Charlie Coe Golf Learning Center ($8.6 million), and basketball’s Lloyd Nobel Center team suites ($9.5 million).
The baseball budget, which includes spectator seating, fan amenities, team facilities and other site improvements, has increased from $30 million first announced last year in the regents' meeting agenda posted in May 2022. That increase was first reported by the OU Daily.
Coaches on the agenda for contract and salary discussion are offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jeff Lebby, offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh, defensive tackles coach Todd Bates, defensive ends coach Miguel Chavis, safeties coach Brandon Hall, cornerbacks coach Jay Valai, tight ends coach Joe Jon Finley and running backs coach DeMarco Murray.
New wide receivers coach Emmett Jones will be reviewed for “consideration of appointment, compensation and contract of employment and to take any necessary action.”
Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Ted Roof is not identified in the agenda.
