Brent Venables of the Oklahoma Sooners receives one of the largest contracts ever given to a first-year head coach in college football history.

 

 

 

 

 

 

According to sources who spoke with ESPN on Friday, Brent Venables, the new football coach of the Oklahoma Sooners, has a deal of $43.5 million spread over six years, which makes it one of the most for a first-year head coach in college football history.

The agreement, which runs through the 2027 season and costs an average of $7.25 million a year, still needs to be approved by the Oklahoma University Board of Regents. According to sources who spoke with ESPN, Venables’ pay will rise by $100,000 for the duration of the deal, and he will receive a $400,000 incentive for winning the national title.

At $2.5 million annually, Venables was the highest-paid defensive coordinator in college football and played a significant role in Clemson’s championship run under Dabo Swinney. After declining several head coaching positions at Clemson, Venables went back to Oklahoma, where he served as the team’s co-defensive coordinator and defensive coordinator from 1999 to 2011.

Additionally, the Sooners are spending a lot of money on their offensive coordinator. According to sources who spoke with ESPN, Jeff Lebby, who served as Ole Miss’ coordinator for the last two seasons, will get somewhat less than $2 million a year.

“We’re excited to have maybe the hottest offensive coordinator in college football on our team,” Venables said of Lebby on Friday, the day of his formal hire. “Some of the most prolific players in the game are tutored by Jeff and his attacks. He will implement a dynamic and multifaceted system that will capitalize on our playmakers.”

Ted Roof, a former Duke head coach who has held defensive coordinator positions at Vanderbilt, Auburn, Minnesota, Penn State, and other places, was hired by the Sooners on Friday in addition to Lebby.

When Auburn won a national championship in 2010, Roof was the defensive coordinator.

Ted is a very skilled coordinator and an excellent educator in college football, having worked in some of the top leagues, including the SEC, Big Ten, and ACC, according to Venables. “He possesses an immense amount of expertise and understanding. We’re lucky to have someone of his caliber in charge of our defense; he will strengthen and toughen us on that end of the field.”

Lincoln Riley, who departed last month to accept the position of head coach at USC, was replaced by Venables, 50. The Sooners’ coach in the bowl game will be former OU head coach Bob Stoops, who was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame recently.

Additionally, Venables is keeping four assistants from Riley’s staff: Joe Jon Finley (tight ends), DeMarco Murray (running backs), Cale Gundy (inside receivers), and an offensive lineman.