OU football program 'very close' on defensive coordinator hire, Joe Castiglione says

OU football program ‘very close’ on defensive coordinator hire, Joe Castiglione says

Posted by author January 31, 2025 Football

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OU football is still searching for its next defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.

Sooners athletic director Joe Castiglione said Thursday following the university’s Board of Regents meeting that the process is “going well.”

“I think it’s very close,” Castiglione said.

Oklahoma missed out on hiring former Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who agreed to a deal to become Penn State’s defensive coordinator and the highest-paid assistant coach in the country. OU reportedly offered Knowles an annual salary of up to $3 million.

The Sooners are tasked with replacing Zac Alley, who departed for West Virginia after one season. OU’s defense ranked No. 31 nationally this season, with Alley being named a nominee for the Broyles Award, which is given to the top assistant coach in college football.

It was thought if Knowles headed to Norman, Venables could entrust the keys to him and focus on being a CEO coach. It’s now unlikely Venables takes a step away from the defense and it’s unclear if the next hire will call the plays or primarily serve as linebackers coach with a co-defensive coordinator title.

The Sooners return strong defensive players next season, as defensive end R Mason Thomas and defensive tackle Damonic Williams recently announced their returns. Safeties Peyton Bowen and Robert Spears-Jennings, linebackers Kip Lewis and Kobie McKinzie and defensive tackles Gracen Halton and Jayden Jackson will be back.

OU has been successful at landing defensive players in the NCAA transfer portal, even without a defensive coordinator, including landing star edge rusher Marvin Jones Jr. from Florida State.

OU football is also searching for its next general manager

Curtis Lofton announced earlier this month he’s stepping down as Oklahoma football general manager after less than a year in the role, opening a key vacancy in this new era of college athletics.

Castiglione said Thursday the program is currently searching for its next GM and has had several inquiries from candidates with experience in the NFL.

“We are talking with teams,” Castiglione said, “to learn about some of the great young talent that exists, but there’s also a few people that have expressed interest that have NFL general manager experience. So we’ll plan to take the group of candidates that we develop and then narrow it down to two or three that we’ll bring to campus for interviews.”

The Sooners’ former assistant general manager, Chuck Lillie, left to become West Virginia’s general manager on Jan. 3.

OU announced a new football recruiting structure in July, which included Lillie, Lofton and a partnership with former Philadelphia Eagles Vice President of Football Administration Jake Rosenberg.

Castiglione complimented the job Rosenberg has done thus far.

“He has continued to be a great service to us, as he’s played a superb role in developing the system and structure that we put into place last fall,” Castiglione said. “It served us very well during the first portal period. The work that he did and continues to do to assist us will not result in him being a general manager, but he’ll be a great partner, and his company will work with us for the foreseeable future.

“But obviously he has a great deal of contacts, so he’s been very helpful in helping us identify some outstanding candidates. That was his role working for the Philadelphia Eagles and so he’s been an outstanding assistance to us, and will be in the months going forward.”

OU also announced a partnership with former AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson in December, rounding out “a more expansive general manager function,” Castiglione said. Stephenson is serving as executive adviser to Harroz and Castiglione without a salary.

Castiglione said he plans to hire a new GM before the spring transfer portal window opens on April 16.