NORMAN — Brent Venables was officially introduced as Clemson’s defensive coordinator on Friday with the announcement he had signed a four-year contract worth $800,000 per season.
After Venables took questions in South Carolina, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops released a statement thanking Venables for his lengthy tenure on the OU staff and wishing him and his family good luck in the future.
“I want to thank Brent Venables for his 13 years of service to the Oklahoma football program. He was a key component in winning a national championship, seven conference championships and many other milestones,” Stoops said. “We hate saying goodbye to such a close colleague and friend, but if we truly are close colleagues and friends, we want what is best for him.”
Venables told the Transcript on Thursday that the major reason he accepted the Clemson job was because going there would provide the chance to truly run his own defense. Tiger coach Dabo Swinney has given him virtual autonomy to do so.
Working under Stoops, who climbed college football’s career ladder as one of the game’s best defensive minds, made it more difficult to stand out.
It’s shown during Stoops’ tenure at OU. Offensive assistants have been in great demand over the years. Five — Mike Leach, Mark Mangino, Chuck Long, Kevin Sumlin and Kevin Wilson — went from the Sooner staff to head coaching jobs.
Only Mike Stoops, who returned to the Sooner staff as defensive coordinator last week, has been able to land a head coaching job from the defensive side.
Stoops understood why Venables felt he had to make the move.
“He has determined that his career goals might be better met in new surroundings. We can be nothing but supportive to someone who has been so loyal and supportive of us. We wish Brent and (his wife) Julie and their family great success, but more importantly we wish them happiness and fulfillment.”
Stoops hasn’t said anything publicly about who he will target as OU’s next linebackers coach. A source close to the program told the Transcript that Tim Kish, who was Mike Stoops’ defensive coordinator at Arizona, is the leading candidate for the spot.
John Shinn 366-3536 jshinn@normantranscript.com
