Brent Venables has already started his offensive coordinator search.
After firing co-offensive coordinator and play caller Seth Littrell, who Venables promoted from offensive analyst less than a year ago, after just seven games, Oklahoma’s head coach knows how crucial the looming decision is to the program.
“We've talked to several people, and so we feel like we're in a good position where we need to be,” Venables said during his weekly press conference on Tuesday. “Can’t put a hard deadline on it, making that decision and doing the process, it's due diligence, and there's a lot of layers to it, as you can imagine.
“I’m very sensitive to what we're trying to do here to finish out the year and give ourselves a chance to win our last two regular season games and continue to get better.”
It took just three days for Venables to hire Littrell after former offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby was hired as head coach at Mississippi State on Nov. 26. However, this time around, he’ll have more time to operate.
He won’t be rushing the decision, but Venables admitted he feels a sense of urgency to find someone to fill the role with college football’s early signing period beginning on Dec. 4 and the transfer portal opening on Dec. 9.
“There certainly is (a sense of urgency to) finding the best solution to where we're at right now,” Venables said. “But there is a real thing called the regular season that's got to finish up. And if I'm talking to the right people, which I believe I am, then they're going to be sensitive to finishing what they started and being loyal to their players.
“Sooner rather than later is when I want it finished. I want to get it right, so that’s our focus.”
Venables was asked about the possibility of hiring former Mississippi State and Florida head coach Dan Mullen, who hasn’t coached since 2021. Mullen coached the Bulldogs from 2011-17 before taking over for the Gators from 2018-21. He also has experience as an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
“I’m not going to comment about the details of the search,” Venables said. “I reached out to him a year ago.”
Venables feels the opportunity to head the offense at Oklahoma will attract a great deal of potential candidates.
“Certainly, I've got to make sure that we have great clarity and we can move forward in regards to our staff,” Venables said. “And I feel great about where that is, it’s a very attractive opportunity for anybody in the coaching profession.”
Jackson Arnold's future
With just two regular-season games left, questions about the future of the program have taken center stage.
Perhaps the biggest question is who OU’s quarterback will be next season.
Sophomore and former five-star Jackson Arnold was presumed to be the future of the program before struggling in OU’s first three and a half games and eventually being benched for freshman Michael Hawkins Jr.
Arnold re-established himself as the starter three games later against South Carolina and has held the spot since, but not without wrinkles. He lost two fumbles against Missouri, including one that the Tigers returned for the game-winning touchdown in the final minute of the game.
“I don’t know what the future holds,” Venables said of Arnold’s future. “We love Jackson and we believe in him. (Naming him a captain) is a sign of he's one of our best leaders that we have on the team.
“There's plenty of guys going through rough spots that still have the ability to lead and fight and compete, and so that goes along with that position as well. But representing the offensive side of the ball, those are two of our best leaders in Troy Everett and Jackson Arnold.”
Arnold said on Monday that he’s focused on the present and hasn’t thought about his future at Oklahoma.
“Regarding my future, we’ve got two great teams left that we’ve got to go against,” Arnold said. “I’m just taking it week by week.”
Arnold has accepted much criticism for being the quarterback of the SEC’s second-worst scoring offense. Venables knows that taking blame is part of being a quarterback, but also realizes OU’s failures in attempting to put a good team around him.
“It's not just him, it's everybody around him,” Venables said. “A lot of times, that position takes criticism even when it's not really his fault, if you will. And then sometimes that position gets too much praise.
“My job is to make sure he has the right perspective in that regard, and then making sure that we're good around him and in that position.”
Spring game date announced
Oklahoma announced its Spring Game will be played on April 12 at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
The scoring system for the spring game is unclear, though OU has used an alternative scoring method the past two years.
