Brent Venables highlights personal investment in Oklahoma program

Brent Venables has a lot invested in the Oklahoma football program, and his journey started long before he became the head coach in 2022. Sooners fans remember Venables from his time as a defensive coordinator from 1999-2011 before he left to take on the same role at Clemson.

So when OU was blindsided by Lincoln Riley leaving to become the coach at USC, athletic director Joe Castiglione called up a familiar name. There seemed no one better fit to lead the program in a time like this than Venables.

It’s been an up-and-down three seasons since. The Sooners have two 6-7 seasons sandwiched in between a 10-3 record in Venables’ second year at the helm. OU struggled to adjust last year in its first season in the SEC amid quarterback struggles following the transfer of Dillon Gabriel.

Venables enters a pivotal fourth season as the Oklahoma coach, and brought in transfer QB John Mateer to take care of last year’s offensive struggles. He spoke on his personal disappointment for the way things have played out thus far, but also his optimism and committment for making a change.

“Anybody that knows me, I’ve never had one foot in one place and another foot in another place,” he said. “I’m incredibly invested in the moment. I’m very passionate. I love what I do. I’m grateful for what I get to do. I happen to have a head coach title (now) and none of that has changed who I am when I show up every single day. I care about helping people have success. I care about and respect and value all of the joy that this program has brought to thousands upon thousands of Oklahomans not only here in the state, but certainly in the state and across the country.

“I’ve been incredibly disappointed that we haven’t been able to give more reason for celebrating or excitement with our end product, but I’m motivated by that. I think that’s a byproduct of keeping your head down and doing everything that you can to help build a program the right way.”

Venables talked about the challenges he faces in the new era of college football. His first job as a head coach also came at a time when the NIL and transfer portal were taking off. Oklahoma brought in 63 new players during his first season.

Then last year, the coach had to deal with the challenge of adjusting to a more difficult SEC conference schedule. The defense held up and was still on the level of above average among SEC team and the country overall. But the offensive struggles are what doomed them.

Brent Venables explained his approach to view every year as a new start and expressed his optimism for things to turn around this year. The program has made the necessary adjustments such as bringing in Mateer as well as running back Jaydn Ott, who is also expected to play a major role offensively, and give themselves a chance.

“Some things in football haven’t changed and there’s plenty that certainly have in the challenges, the headwinds and the environment we’re dealing with now,” Venables said. “We had 63 new players our first year. So there’s a lot that you don’t know in that new environment. That’s the first time I’d been in a program in several decades where there was so much instability and how you kind of start completely over. Every year seemed like it’s been a life of its own to me. I’ve really approached it that way because every year, the environment that we’re in has changed tremendously. But you learn and grow from all of it.

“…We need to continue to try to find the right people from a recruiting standpoint. That’s the lifeblood of all of it. There’s nothing that’s more important than having the right guys in the locker room. Through it all, I’ve been proud of the hard work. Disappointed in the lack of success at times, but know without question that our best days are sitting in front of us as we speak.”

In the end, Venables is still grateful to have this job and, for the most part, the trust of fans and adminstration alike. He was a part of a great period of success with the Sooners in the past, and remains committed to helping them get back to that level in the near future.

Even with talks about this being a potential hot seat season, Venables considers himself lucky to be in the position he’s in. Part of that comes from his experiences in the past and deep connection to OU.

“There is never a time for a pity party,” he said. “I don’t feel bad for nobody and nobody feels bad for me. That’s just the way life is. I’ve always had that mindset. The game ain’t fair, life ain’t fair. But man, we have an amazing staff and we have an amazing locker room and I’m at one of the best programs in college football history. I pull up to the Switzer Center every single day. So tremendous responsibility and what I have to own. I want to put a product that everybody that loves Oklahoma is incredibly proud of.”