After an intensive coordinator search that noticed Oklahoma weave via potential candidates like Jim Knowles, the Sooners lastly have their new defensive play caller: head coach Brent Venables. Venables, a longtime former defensive coordinator himself, will now, in essence, return to that position whereas nonetheless working Oklahoma’s complete program.
To help within the transition, Oklahoma additionally introduced the hiring of former Arkansas State defensive coordinator Nate Dreiling as inside linebackers coach and former Clemson defensive coordinator (and Venables disciple) Wes Goodwin as an assistant linebackers coach.
“I’ve mirrored on all sides of our program over the previous a number of weeks,” Venables stated in an announcement. “Since I used to be employed as head coach, we now have rigorously assembled the defensive personnel and scheme that’s suited to compete on the highest degree, and we have constructed a deep and proficient roster prepared for the second. I’ve excessive expectations for our program and can do all the things in my energy to realize our targets for our gamers. To that finish, I’ll take over defensive play-calling duties for the 2025 season.”
Venables’ choice comes after Oklahoma misplaced sitting defensive coordinator Zac Alley to West Virginia after he served only one season with the Sooners. Venables can also be increasing his direct duties within the wake of one other 6-7 season — capped by a loss in opposition to Navy within the Armed Forces Bowl — that noticed Oklahoma put up a 2-6 convention report in its first season with the SEC.
With that, Oklahoma posted its second dropping season in three years below Venables. Take away Oklahoma’s 10-3 effort in 2023, and Venables is 12-14 with a convention displaying of 5-12 whereas main certainly one of faculty soccer’s most storied packages.
Suffice to say, the stress to carry out is mounting. So Venables asserting extra management on the facet of the ball that he spent a profession constructing round, particularly after Oklahoma missed on some massive swings, is sensible on paper.
Will this transfer work out for Venables, Oklahoma?
Oklahoma’s struggles in 2024 had been multi-faceted, however the protection had its fair proportion of letdowns. The Sooners completed a good nineteenth nationally in whole protection (318.2 yards per sport) and twenty ninth in scoring protection whereas permitting 21.54 factors per sport. They had been particularly dominant in a shocking late-season upset of Alabama the place they held the Crimson Tide’s explosive offense to a season-low three factors.
However Oklahoma additionally surrendered at the very least 25 factors in six of its eight SEC contests, together with 4 video games during which the opponent was in a position to exceed 30 factors. All six of these video games resulted in a loss.
Whereas loads of the blame will be positioned firmly on Alley as Oklahoma’s main play-caller, Oklahoma’s protection nonetheless had Venables’ DNA throughout it. It is in all probability not a coincidence that Alley was the second defensive coordinator of Venables’ three-year tenure.
Venables’ historical past means that he’ll have the ability to get Oklahoma’s protection again on the upswing, although. He was beforehand a co-defensive coordinator, after which defensive coordinator, with the Sooners from 1999-2011. He received a BCS nationwide championship and 7 Large 12 titles working below legendary coach Bob Stoops.
From 2012-21, Venables helped Clemson turn out to be a mainstay within the School Soccer Playoff because the Tigers’ defensive coordinator. He was a key determine on two nationwide title-winning groups and helped Clemson win six straight ACC championships from 2015-20.
Venables’ defenses continuously ranked at or across the prime of most main metrics. He is among the best defensive minds within the sport’s historical past, and Oklahoma’s unit ought to profit from his direct steering.
The foremost downside right here is that Venables’ newest transfer magnifies vital criticism in opposition to him. Although the 54-year-old Venables has been a full-time coach, in some capability, since 1996, that is his first time because the true figurehead for a program.
Naturally, given his inexperience and Oklahoma’s lackluster outcomes to date, there are questions on his capability to truly direct a soccer crew. Coaches have loads of duties that transcend the precise gameday operation, and including direct defensive preparation and play-calling to his plate might take Venables’ consideration away from a few of these essential particulars.
Hiring two former defensive coordinators in Dreiling and Goodwin was an excellent choice, particularly given Goodwin’s expertise in Venables’ system from their time collaborating at Clemson. They know what it takes to run a protection and may also help alleviate a few of that burden when Venables’ consideration must be elsewhere.
Venables additionally employed Ben Arbuckle to run his offense after one season of offensive coordinators Seth Littrell, Joe Jon Finley and Kevin Johns. Washington State had certainly one of final season’s prime offensive models below Arbuckle, who will carry some contemporary new concepts to an Oklahoma offense that has grown stagnant.
He ought to have loads of free reign with Venables dedicating extra time to protection. How Arbuckle pans out will probably be essential to Oklahoma’s 2025 season.
In essence, Venables’ choice to turn out to be Oklahoma’s de facto defensive coordinator looks as if an effort to take a extra direct method in turning the Sooners’ fortunes round. Whereas Oklahoma’s protection ought to reap the fast reward, it’ll take some extra development from Venables as a “CEO” head coach, and large effort from Oklahoma’s different models, to essentially get issues heading in the right direction.
