ARDMORE — The OU Board of Trustees approved a new six-year, $51.6 million contract with head coach Brent Venables on Friday.
Venables will earn an average annual salary of $8.6 million over the life of his contract, including an $8.15 million salary in 2024 (which includes a $600,000 severance payment). Venables was originally scheduled to enter the third year of a fully guaranteed six-year, $43.5 million contract.
“We've been proactive with contracts,” OU athletic director Joe Castiglione said after the meeting, “and the changes to Coach Venables' contract are a great example of that. Since he's been on campus for two years, we've been transitioning into a new league and putting the foundation in place for us to be successful going forward and compete for championships, just like we're a contender for and other top teams aspire to be.”
First reported by ESPN News of the extension was announced on Friday.
Venables, who has a 16-10 record in two seasons, will enter his third year as head coach in Norman as the Sooners enter the SEC.
The new deal comes after Venables led OU to a 10-3 record in 2023, including a 34-30 win over then-No. 3 Texas in the Red River Rivalry. Venables also signed a top-10 recruiting class for the third consecutive year.
“What (Venables) is doing is identifying the players we need to be successful in the world that we compete in,” Castiglione said, “not only does it help the culture that they're coming into, the relationships that are built, the whole team, but what's most important in his world is having a strong leader that's going to prepare them to be successful in the world in the future.”
“Is football going to be relevant beyond college eligibility or are you doing it to make a living?”
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Other new signings for the OU coaching staff
OU women's basketball coach Jenny Baranczyk also received a contract extension and a pay raise after leading the Sooners to a second consecutive regular-season conference title.
Baranczyk's contract has been extended through the 2029-2030 season, increasing her supplemental and outside earnings from $300,000 to $625,000.
OU men's basketball coach Porter Moser received a $100,000 increase in supplemental and outside income, a surprising move considering the school failed to reach the NCAA Tournament in his first three seasons on the job.Castiglione said the raise was a sign of appreciation for the work of Moser and his staff.
“It was definitely important to thank Coach Moser and let him know he has the leadership,” Castiglione said. “Obviously, it's disappointing that we didn't make the NCAA Tournament, but it took a lot of unusual things that we haven't seen in the last few days leading up to the NCAA Tournament to prevent us from making it.”
Sooners women's gymnastics coach KJ Kindler's contract has been extended through the 2031 season, and she will receive $1 million per year, including retirement savings.
Other soccer assistant contracts:
- Defensive ends coach Miguel Chavis' contract was extended through the 2026 season, increasing his outside salary from $365,000 to $405,000.
- Running backs coach DeMarco Murray's contract was extended through the 2026 season with an increase in outside salary from $290,000 to $515,000, then $565,000 total in 2025, rising to $590,000 in 2026. Murray was reportedly offered a deal to leave Norman and take the same position at Ohio State.
