Joe Castiglione credits Brent Venables’ aggressiveness as a factor in his extension

Oklahoma soccer coach Brent Venables is locked in long-term after receiving a six-year extension to keep him through 2029. The decision comes ahead of the Sooners’ move to the SEC in 2024 and shows their commitment to what the coach has built in Norman.

After a 6-7 inaugural season, Venables directed OU to a 10-3 record last season. That included a 34-30 win in the Red River Rivalry against Texas and shows growth for the Sooners in the coming seasons.

Speaking of the extension, Oklahoma’s athletic director Joe Castiglione revealed that how Venables has adapted to today’s world of college athletics is a major reason.

“It’s a big part of the expansion,” he said. “He’s talking about the importance of identifying the players we need to be successful in the world in which we compete. The culture they reach, the relationships they build. Having strong leaders who can not only help the team in general, but also in the locker room. Most important in his world is setting them up for future success in the world, whether football might be involved in that beyond their college eligibility or moving toward livelihoods.

“So for us, we’re talking about all the different aspects of recruiting. Yes, NIL support. But just the support of that whole mission and the purpose and the values ​​that we provide – and the experiences that we create for players to develop. He really believes in it.”

Venables was active on the transfer portal during his tenure at OU. The Sooners ranked 25th in 2023 and 26th this offseason, according to On3’s transfer portal ranking. They also signed the No. 1 recruiting class. 9 highlighted by the defensive lineman David Stone.

More importantly, the coach tries to recruit the right type of players that fit his system. An identity and style are at the forefront of everything the Sooners do, right down to how they perform in the classroom.

“I can tell it’s having a fantastic impact,” Catiglione said. “The football team’s GPA this semester was the highest in history. The football team has never hit 3.0 since I’ve been here. …You can see them grow and develop and really succeed in many different aspects of their lives. Not just in competition, which we understand is vitally important. But we want them to be generally positioned as a great young person and people who will be successful.”

Oklahoma is set to open the 2024 season on Aug. 30 against Temple in Norman. The Sooners will play their first SEC game on Sept. 21 against Tennessee, where they will face former OU quarterback turned Vols head coach Josh Heupel.