Skip to main content
Oklahoma

OU head coach Brent Venables says wife Julie is cancer-free

headshotby: George Stoia03/07/24GeorgeStoia
Julie Venables
Julie Venables (center) and family laugh at a remark from her husband, new OU football coach Brent Venables (© DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK)

OU head coach Brent Venables announced Wednesday that his wife, Julie, is cancer-free.

Julie has been battling breast cancer since being diagnosed in the summer of 2023. She told The Oklahoman on Wednesday that she has “zero cancer.”

“I’m doing routine blood screenings, but right now there’s zero cancer,” Julie said.

At his pre-spring practice press conference, Venables spoke about his wife’s battle and his joy that she is cancer-free. He said they found out a month ago that she no longer had cancer.

“Several weeks ago, maybe a month or so ago, we were able to just get good news, praise Jesus, that she’s cancer-free,” Venables said. “Anybody that’s gone through that journey, it’s terrifying. You’re never real comfortable. So keep everything in perspective, but real thankful. We had a great team of doctors and nurses and things of that nature, but she’s tough as all get out. She’s been doing great. So appreciate that. Appreciate everybody’s prayers as well.”

Venables first announced Julie’s diagnosis in August.

“It’s been nothing short of amazing the group of people that have helped, whether it’s the doctors or administration, people I work with, our staff, our players, our players’ parents and certainly so many friends and the Sooner nation,” Venables said. “We’re hopeful that we got everything and we maybe can avoid further treatments.”

The two have been married since 1997 and have four children.

You may also like