Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables is stepping in to handle defensive play-calling for the 2025 season following a rough 6-7 debut season in the SEC. With mounting pressure, Venables is relying on what has worked best for him in the past.

The Oklahoma Sooners had to scramble after their bowl game to rebuild their staff when former defensive coordinator Zac Alley bolted in the middle of the night to take the same job at West Virginia. Part of that rebuild was the addition of two new coaches from across the country to Oklahoma's

Brent Venables is stepping back into his comfort zone in 2025, taking over the Oklahoma Sooners ' defense after Zac Alley left to be the defensive coordinator for Rich Rodriguez and West Virginia. Venables, in his fourth year at the helm of Oklahoma Football, was one of the best defensive coordinators in college football before taking the OU job.