OU football continues to build out its defensive staff ahead of spring camp, adding Aaron Cheatwood as assistant edge coach, according to FootballScoop's Doug Samuels on Tuesday.
Super EXCITED about @Coach_Cheatwood joining @OU_Football as the Assistant Edge Coach!Aaron not only brings a wealth of knowledge , toughness, & hard-work to the Sooners, but a focus on winning, relationships, and keeping it about the players!Welcome to the #EDGEMEN, Coach! https://t.co/8sMqQIfpiT
— Coach Miguel Chavis (@MiguelChavis65) March 17, 2026
Cheatwood most recently served as the linebackers coach at Northern Arizona at the FCS level. Before that, he was a defensive analyst at New Mexico State in 2023, working under current OU inside linebackers coach Nate Dreiling.
During the 2025 season, Cheatwood coached multiple linebackers to All-Big Sky honors, including a freshman All-American selection. The unit totaled 24 tackles for loss and 14 sacks.
In 2024, Northern Arizona's linebacking group helped anchor one of the Big Sky's top defenses, with multiple all-conference selections. The defense ranked 15th nationally in scoring defense with 18.8 points per game, 18th in total defense with 316.5 yards per game and 39th in run defense with 139.8 yards per game.
Cheatwood began his coaching career at Arizona Western in 2007, working as the defensive line coach before transitioning to offensive line coach in 2009. He later spent eight years at Yuma Catholic High School in Yuma, Arizona, where he held multiple roles, including offensive and defensive line coach, defensive backs coach, quarterbacks coach, offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, assistant athletic director and head coach.
Cheatwood becomes the fourth addition to Venables’ staff this offseason as OU continues to reshape its personnel entering the 2026 season.
On defense, OU also added LaMar Morgan, previously the defensive pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach at Michigan, to coach cornerbacks. OU also hired DeShawn Williams, a former Clemson defensive tackle and NFL veteran, as a defensive analyst.
The Sooners are scheduled to hold their spring game on April 18 as they begin preparations for their third season in the SEC.
