BREAKING: Oklahoma Hires Brent Venables As New HC
Tennessee fans can take a deep sigh of relief. Josh Heupel is not the newest head coach of the Oklahoma Sooner. A week after Lincoln Riley bolted Norman for Southern Cal, the Sooners pegged Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables as its newest head coach.
𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐑‼️
Brent Venables officially named Oklahoma's 23rd head football coach!
➡️ https://t.co/bbhn4YPFM3 #BoomerSooner pic.twitter.com/9GjwAFnUwQ
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) December 6, 2021
Venables helped build Clemson into what it is today. In Dabo Swinney’s first four years at Clemson, the Tigers posted a 32-22 record. Since Venables took over as defensive coordinator, Clemson is 120-17 with six CFB Playoff appearances and two National Championships.
Before his tenure at Clemson, Venables served as Oklahoma’s defensive coordinator under Bob Stoops. Stoops had a major role in Oklahoma’s coaching search and is currently the Sooners’ interim head coach.
Oklahoma isn’t the first school to come calling Venables about a head coaching vacancy but is the first offer that’s been compelling enough to make Venables step into the big chair.
First up for Venables will be convincing start quarterback Caleb Williams to stay in Norman and not enter the transfer portal. The defensive minded head coach already has his offensive coordinator, poaching Ole Miss offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby. The former Josh Heupel assistant at UCF is one of the brightest young offensive minds in the country.
The Sooners hope pairing the young defensive head coach and young, innovative, offensive coordinator gives them a chance to be successful once joining the SEC.
