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5h ago

Oklahoma's Brent Venables Takes $1 Million Pay Cut for 2025 to Boost Athlete Revenue Sharing

OU says the one-time give-back will support the department's new athlete revenue-sharing program.

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Oklahoma coach Brent Venables shouts during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the South Carolina Gamecocks at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.

Overview

  • A contract obtained by USA TODAY shows a revised deal that trims Venables' 2025 pay by $1 million while keeping future years intact.
  • His salary this season is set at $7.55 million, with 2026–29 remaining at $8.65M, $8.65M, $8.75M and $8.85M, subject to standard offsets if he is fired without cause.
  • The agreement runs through January 31, 2030, with the amendment signed in early February according to the document.
  • Athletic director Joe Castiglione said Venables proposed the cut to aid player retention and recruiting under the new compensation framework.
  • The move mirrors adjustments by other Power Four coaches, including Florida State's Mike Norvell ($4.5 million) and Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy ($1 million), as schools budget for athlete payments and benefits that can reach $20.5 million in 2025–26.