Brent Venables on the burden on being Oklahoma head coach: 'I like to be doubted'

Brent Venables faced heavy criticism amid Oklahoma‘s 6-7 finish during the Sooners’ first season in the Southeastern Conference in 2024. He’s been able to block out the noise this fall, and lead OU to its first College Football Playoff under his guidance.

Ahead of the Sooners’ first-round matchup against Alabama, Venables revealed how he’s able to disengage from negative commentary in the age of social media. It all has to do with his core values.

“My purpose is not attached to the head coach at Oklahoma. Best title I’ve got is as a dad and a husband and then a believer. So, I keep things in their rightful place,” Venables said. “I put everything I got into everything I do. I love what I do. I like the good times. I like to be doubted. There’s several people here, you’re doing your jobs, you’ve had to say the bad things, too, about us, about me and that’s cool.

“I don’t hold on to it. I remember, but I don’t hold on to it. But that just comes with it too, that you sign up for that, the whole Man in the Arena thing. You try to balance everything out and don’t live a dysfunctional life when it comes to worrying about what everybody thinks now, because we lost a game. And nobody cares more deeply than me, and I carry that heavy burden of wanting people to have pride, that love Oklahoma.”

While Venables takes the brunt of any criticism, he wants his players to walk with their head held high because he knows they’re “about the right stuff.” That’s seen in how they play, compete, win and how they carry themselves when the success follows. He wants his players to have a “genuine appreciation” for their teammates and to represent the university.

That’s exactly what’s happened this season, as the Sooners have turned a 2-6 record vs. the SEC in 2024 into a College Football Playoff berth for Venables and OU in 2025. His team blocked out the noise, and they’re reaping the rewards this fall.

“For me, by the grace of God, I’ve just been able to stay kind of right here (motions in a straight line) through all of it, and never think too much of myself,” Venables continued. “Again, I’ve said this, I know I’ve lived a career that, man, I don’t deserve that has represented excellence.

“Not perfectness, excellence, for decades. And the people that have been put in my life are players, coaches, mentors, my family, my spirituality, of how I’ve been able to manage it all without trying to appeal to the voices and the opinions of people that, quite honestly, don’t affect me.”

Venables’ team will look to continue their success this weekend ay home against Alabama — a team the Sooners beat 23-21 in Tuscaloosa last month. Kickoff is set for Friday, Dec. 19 at 8 p.m. ET live on ABC and ESPN.