Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables has been hired as the next coach at Oklahoma, the school announced on Sunday. Venables, a former Sooners assistant, will return to Norman, Oklahoma, after 10 years as the Tigers defensive coordinator, including four as associate head coach under Dabo Swinney.
Venables will replace Lincoln Riley, who became the first Sooners coach since 1946 to leave for another college opportunity when he accepted the same role at USC.
Venables is targeting Ole Miss offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby to oversee the offense, according to multiple reports.
“This is an incredibly special opportunity. Julie and I and our family are extremely grateful for the belief in us — and certainly in me — to be the next head coach at Oklahoma, one of the winningest and most tradition-rich programs in college football history,” Venables said in a statement. “Our memories from Norman, where all four of our children were born, have been nothing but great. We’re looking forward to making another decade-plus of incredible memories as we transition to a new era of Oklahoma football, especially with the opportunity and the challenge to join the SEC, the premier conference in all of college football. Joe Castiglione,
President Harroz and the Board of Regents have given us incredible support that equals the best of the best in our sport. There’s no question we are equipped to compete at the very highest level and attract the best players from across the country. The OU logo has never been stronger.”
Venables spent 13 years as defensive coordinator and associate head coach at Oklahoma under legendary coach Bob Stoops. He served as co-defensive coordinator on the 2000 national championship team as his defense suffocated Florida…
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