Oklahoma football coach Brent Venables agrees to new six-year, $51.6 million contract

ARDMORE, Okla. — The University of Oklahoma Board of Regents on Friday approved a new six-year, $51.6 million contract for football coach Brent Venables.

Venables will earn an average of $8.6 million annually over the course of the deal, including an $8.15 million salary in 2024 that includes $600,000 in retirement. Venables was set to enter the third year of his original six-year, fully guaranteed, $43.5 million contract.

“We’ve been proactive about the contracts,” Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione said after the meeting. “The contract move for coach Venables is a perfect example of that. Which he’s been doing since he’s been on campus for two years as we move into a new league and put the foundation in place for us to be successful in the future. and chase championships like all the best teams and the ones we compete with try to do.”

Venables, who owns a 16-10 record over two seasons, will be entering his third year at the helm as the Sooners begin their first campaign as a member of the Southeastern Conference.

The renewed contract comes after Venables led Oklahoma to a 10-3 record in 2023, which included a 34-30 loss of No. 4 Texas. Venables has also signed three consecutive top-10 recruiting classes since being hired after 10 seasons as Clemson’s defensive coordinator. He was previously the defensive coordinator for the Sooners from 1999-2011.

“(Venables) is about the importance of identifying the players we need to be successful in the world we’re competing in,” Castiglione said. “The culture they get to, the relationships that are built, having strong leaders that can not only help the team as a whole, but most importantly in his world sets them up for future success in the world in the future.

“Whether football could be involved in it beyond their college eligibility, or it’s going into their livelihood.”

Other new contracts for Oklahoma coaches

Sooners women’s basketball coach Jennie Baranczyk received an extension and a raise after leading the Sooners to two consecutive regular season conference titles.

Baranczyk’s contract was extended through the 2029–2030 season, and her additional and outside income was increased from $300,000 to $625,000.

In a surprising move, given that he failed to make the NCAA Tournament in his first three seasons, OU men’s basketball coach Porter Moser received a $100,000 increase in supplemental and outside income. Castiglione attributed the increase to a show of appreciation for Moser and the work of his staff.

“It was definitely important to show Coach Moser that we appreciate him and what he provides in leadership,” Castiglione said. “Of course, we were disappointed not to make the NCAA tournament, but it took a lot of anomalies not seen in the days leading up to the NCAA tournament to keep us out.”

Sooners women’s gymnastics coach KJ Kindler’s contract has been extended through the 2031 season and will earn $1 million annually, which includes retirement contributions.

Other football assistant contracts:

• Defensive line coach Miguel Chavis’ contract has been extended through the 2026 season and his outside earnings have increased from $365,000 to $405,000.

• Running backs coach DeMarco Murray’s contract was extended through the 2026 season and his outside earnings increased from $290,000 to $515,000. And starting in 2025, that total will be $565,000 before jumping to $590,000 in 2026. Murray was reportedly offered a deal to leave Norman for the same position at Ohio State.

This article originally appeared on The Oklahoman: Oklahoma Brent Venables agrees to six-year, $51.6 million contract