OU announced Friday it will hire Roger Denny as its next athletic director.
Denny has served as Illinois’ deputy athletic director and chief operating officer since July 2021. Prior to his position at Illinois, Denny was an attorney at the St. Louis office of law firm Spencer Fane LLP where he had worked as a partner since 2015 with an industry focus on sports businesses. Denny advised clients on transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, executive compensation and taxation, private equity and corporate finance.
Denny earned a bachelor's degree from Southeast Missouri State University, a law degree from St. Louis University and an LLM degree in tax law from Washington University in St. Louis.
Roger Denny statement
“I want to thank the OU Board of Regents, President Harroz, and the search committee for their confidence and the thoughtful process that brought us together,” Denny said. “Oklahoma has a proud tradition in college athletics, and I am honored to join a university that competes with purpose and pride. My focus will be on putting student-athletes first in everything we do, providing them the resources and support to excel in competition and in life. I looked forward to working with Randall, our coaches, staff, and the OU community to build on this legacy while winning national championships now and in the years ahead.”
OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. statement
“College athletics is undergoing profound disruption that requires us to think well beyond conventional structures and roles,” OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. said. “In Roger we have the next natural leader who understands both the complexity of the moment and the opportunities it presents. It is clear Roger will advance the bold vision needed for OU to continue leading in a highly dynamic environment."
Chair and Special Adviser to the President for OU Athletics Randall Stephenson statement
“Few industries have undergone as rapid and radical disruption as college athletics, and I am grateful for the bold actions that the Board of Regents and President Harroz have supported in our football operations,” said Randall Stephenson, chair and special adviser to the president for OU Athletics. “Roger is the ideal candidate to lead Sooner Athletics with his deep legal background serving both the professional and college sports industries. He is a proven operator with a competitive intensity and drive to win. His passion for college athletics, student-athletes, coaches, and staff is the right recipe to position OU for national championships.”
OU football general manager Jim Nagy statement
"On behalf of Sooner Football, we are excited about the appointment of Roger Denny as the new leader of OU Athletics," OU football general manager Jim Nagy said. "We trust the process and vision that led President Harroz, Randall Stephenson, and the Board of Regents to this exciting hire. The college football landscape is constantly evolving and Roger is the adaptive innovator that will allow our program to maintain the expected level of excellence."
OU football head coach Brent Venables statement
"I'm extremely confident Roger's extensive background in law and highly accomplished time as Deputy AD and COO at the University of Illinois have prepared him for this outstanding opportunity to lead the OU Athletics Department, and I couldn't be more enthusiastic about his hiring," OU football head coach Brent Venables said. "He is more than ready to help us navigate this rapidly changing college sports landscape and keep us positioned for success now and in the future. I've heard nothing but great things about his approach to his work, how intelligent he is, how he interacts with others and how committed he is to winning."
Background
OU set out to a hire a new athletic director following Joe Castiglione's announcement in July to retire from the position in 2025-26.
Castiglione has served as OU's athletic director since 1998 and will step into an emeritus role following the hiring of his successor. The Sooners won 26 national championships during his tenure.
OU released its job description for the role in October. It stated that candidates were required to have a bachelor’s degree, demonstrated ability to lead high-performing teams, business acumen in finance and marketing and experience driving measurable outcomes. Preferred candidates were expected to hold a master’s degree, experience with fundraising and alumni relations and possess deep knowledge of NCAA regulations and athlete well-being initiatives, including name, image and likeness deals, revenue sharing and the NCAA's House settlement.
