Brent Venables buyout: Inside OU football coach contract details
Colton SulleyThe Oklahoman
NORMAN — OU football coach Brent Venables' contract buyout following the 2024 season would be substantial.
If the Sooners parted ways with Venables, which is unlikely, following their last game at LSU, Venables would be owed $44.8 million. Venables, in his third season at the helm, is 20-14 overall as head coach and 11-12 in conference games, heading into Saturday night's game against Alabama.
OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. and athletic director Joe Castiglione stood firm in their confidence in Venables last week during a university Board of Regents meeting.
"We truly believe in Coach Venables and our team," Castiglione said, "and are are completely focused on both supporting them and looking at all of the ways to address the needed improvements now as soon as possible as well as in preparation for next year."
More:Times are tough for OU, Oklahoma State. So are emotions for Brent Venables & Mike Gundy
Why did OU football extend Brent Venables?
Regents approved a new six-year contract worth $51.6 million for Venables on June 21. Venables signed the contract on June 7, while athletic director Joe Castiglione signed on June 10.Venables' contract runs through the 2029 season.
“As I said at the time, the university understood the transition that we were making and the importance of creating stability throughout our program,” Castiglione said of the decision to extend Venables. “As you know, this is a very unique time in college athletics and there are disruptions and chaos around building and sustaining rosters.
“The stability and the strength as we go forward was an important characteristic we wanted to embrace across many other areas, not just this contract, but fortifying the people involved so we can be successful.”
Venables' contract includes various opportunities to add to his lucrative extension, according to his contract obtained by The Oklahoman and the USA TODAY Network.
Brent Venables performance bonuses
- $125,000 for participating in the SEC Championship Game, up from $100,000 for participating in the Big 12 Championship Game
- An additional $125,000 for winning the SEC Championship Game, bringing his total earnings for winning the conference championship game to $250,000
- $25,000 for participating in a non-CFP postseason bowl game with at least seven regular season wins
- $200,000 for participating in a CFP first round game
- $300,000 for participating in a CFP quarterfinal game
- $400,000 for participating in a CFP semifinal game
- $750,000 for participating in the CFP National Championship game, up from $300,000
- $35,000 for being named SEC Coach of the Year
- $75,000 for being named National Coach of the Year by any one of the following: the Associated Press, AFCA and/or Home Depot (ESPN)
- $25,000 annually for a cumulative team GPA of 3.0 or better for any semester
