In an era when college football coaching tenures feel more like brief pit stops than long-term commitments, Brent Venables just proved loyalty still matters. The Oklahoma Sooners head coach stunned the college football world this week by turning down a staggering $9.5 million offer reportedly extended jointly by Kansas and Georgia to lure him away from Norman.
The ESPN-reported deal would have made Venables one of the highest-paid coaches in the country, but instead, he chose stability, unfinished business, and his bond with the Sooners over financial fortune and SEC glory elsewhere.
Venables, 53, has quickly reestablished himself as one of the premier coaching minds in college football since taking over at Oklahoma in 2022. After years as Dabo Swinney’s defensive coordinator at Clemson — where he helped lead the Tigers to two national championships — his return to Norman as the head man was viewed as a natural fit, considering his previous stint with Bob Stoops from 1999 to 2011.
Fast forward to 2025, and Venables’ impact is undeniable. He’s rebuilt Oklahoma into a disciplined, competitive program with an identity rooted in toughness and defensive accountability — trademarks that had been lacking during the Lincoln Riley years.
This success has not gone unnoticed.
Sources indicate both Kansas and Georgia — the latter of which is still recovering from the sudden retirement of Kirby Smart due to health concerns — approached Venables with a monumental financial package. The two programs reportedly joined forces to form an unprecedented proposal, offering Venables the opportunity to dictate his football future on either campus while receiving full personnel control and near-unlimited NIL support.
But Venables said no.
“I have no plans beyond being the Oklahoma Sooners head coach,” Venables said in a statement provided to ESPN. “This university, this fan base, this program — they believed in me when I got here, and I believe in what we’re building. I’m not chasing dollars. I’m chasing championships — with Oklahoma.”
When Oklahoma made the move to hire Venables after Lincoln Riley’s departure to USC, there were skeptics. Could a longtime assistant, albeit a respected one, transition to the pressures of being the head of a blue-blood program — especially as the Sooners prepared for their leap to the SEC?
Three years later, those doubts have mostly evaporated. Venables has proven adept not only in gameday management but also in culture-building and player development. The Sooners won 10 games in 2024 and finished the season with a dominant bowl victory over Penn State — a clear statement that Oklahoma wasn’t just adjusting to the SEC, it was ready to contend in it.
His decision to stay comes at a critical time for the Sooners. With the program’s first full SEC schedule just around the corner, Venables’ steady leadership may be the most valuable asset Oklahoma possesses.
“Coach V staying sends a message to recruits, to players, to everyone — Oklahoma is home,” said Sooners linebacker Danny Stutsman. “He’s not going to jump ship when things get tough. He’s going to lead us through it.”
While Oklahoma fans are celebrating, the failed overtures leave major ramifications for the programs that sought to land Venables.
Kansas has enjoyed a football renaissance under head coach Lance Leipold, but his abrupt departure last month for an NFL opportunity left the Jayhawks scrambling. Their pursuit of Venables was seen as a moonshot — but also a signal that Kansas was ready to invest at a level previously unthinkable.
Georgia’s situation is even more complex. With Kirby Smart stepping away due to undisclosed health issues, the Bulldogs are in the midst of a succession plan nobody expected this soon. Georgia Athletic Director Josh Brooks reportedly saw Venables as a natural heir to Smart, citing his SEC familiarity, elite recruiting chops, and national championship pedigree.
Instead, Georgia now faces a frantic search for its next head coach, with pressure mounting to find someone who can maintain the standard Smart established.
The $9.5 million figure — not to mention the massive support staff and recruiting budgets tied to it — would be a life-changing offer for almost any coach. So why did Venables decline?
Those close to the coach say it comes down to loyalty and vision.
“Brent’s never been about chasing the next shiny object,” said a longtime associate. “He wants to build something special. Oklahoma gave him the keys, and he’s not interested in driving someone else’s car.”
In his statement, Venables emphasized continuity and the relationships he’s built with players, staff, and the broader Sooners community. He also cited the support from Athletic Director Joe Castiglione and University President Joseph Harroz as pivotal factors in his decision.
Insiders believe Oklahoma is preparing a new contract extension to reward Venables for his commitment, likely raising his salary into the $8 million range — still below what Kansas and Georgia offered, but in line with top-tier coaching salaries nationally.
In the modern world of college football, head coach stability is as critical to recruiting as facilities or NIL packages. With Venables reaffirming his commitment, Oklahoma can continue building momentum in the 2025 and 2026 classes.
Five-star defensive lineman Jamal Blount, a top Oklahoma target, tweeted after the news broke:
“Coach V is staying!! That’s all I needed to hear. Boomer!”
Oklahoma currently holds the No. 4 recruiting class in the nation according to 247Sports and looks poised to climb even higher with this renewed stability.
Venables’ decision ensures that the Sooners enter the SEC with consistency, momentum, and the kind of defensive foundation that wins championships. As Oklahoma prepares for a 2025 schedule that includes road trips to Alabama and LSU, plus home games against Texas A&M and Tennessee, the leadership of a proven head coach is essential.
“The SEC demands the best,” said Castiglione. “Brent is one of the best. He’s our coach — and we couldn’t be more excited about where we’re headed together.”
In an era defined by transient coaching stops and megadeals that frequently lure even the most tenured coaches away, Venables’ decision bucks the trend.
His rejection of the $9.5 million offer is not just a win for Oklahoma — it’s a statement about what matters most in college football: culture, connection, and continuity.
And it might just be the boldest move of Brent Venables’ career.
