Brent Venables is still standing. Honestly, if you’d asked some of the local radio hosts in Norman back in 2024 if he’d make it this far, they might have laughed you out of the booth. But here we are in January 2026, and the Oklahoma coaching staff football landscape looks both radically different and oddly familiar.
The biggest shocker? Jason Witten. Yeah, that Jason Witten. The Dallas Cowboys legend is now the tight ends coach at OU. It’s the kind of move that feels like a fever dream until you see him on the sidelines in that crimson pullover.
The defensive mastermind holds the reins
Venables isn't just the head coach anymore. He’s basically the defensive coordinator in all but name. After Zac Alley took off for West Virginia following the 2024 season, Brent decided he’d seen enough. He officially took back the defensive play-calling duties. It’s a move that probably saved his job. By the end of 2025, the Sooners were back to that aggressive, "hair on fire" style that won them titles in the early 2000s.
He didn't do it alone, though. He brought in some serious heavy hitters to support the vision. Nate Dreiling is now coaching the inside linebackers, and Wes Goodwin—who literally replaced Venables at Clemson—is the assistant linebackers coach. Think about that for a second. You have three guys on one defensive staff who have all been high-level coordinators. It’s an insane amount of brainpower for one side of the ball.
The current Oklahoma coaching staff football lineup
If you’re trying to keep track of who is actually in the building right now, here is how the 2026 staff shakes out:
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- Brent Venables: Head Coach / Defensive Play-caller
- Ben Arbuckle: Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks
- Todd Bates: Associate Head Coach / Co-Defensive Coordinator (Run Defense)
- Jay Valai: Assistant Head Coach for Defense / Co-Defensive Coordinator (Pass Defense)
- Bill Bedenbaugh: Offensive Line (The man is a permanent fixture at this point)
- DeMarco Murray: Running Backs
- Jason Witten: Tight Ends
- Emmett Jones: Passing Game Coordinator / Wide Receivers
- Miguel Chavis: Defensive Ends
- Doug Deakin: Special Teams Coordinator
It’s a mix of "old guard" OU and some very new, very NFL-flavored energy.
Can Ben Arbuckle fix the offensive identity?
Let’s talk about the offense because, man, it was a struggle for a while. After the Seth Littrell era ended mid-season in 2024, the Sooners needed a spark. Enter Ben Arbuckle. He’s young, he’s aggressive, and he basically lives in the "Air Raid" mindset.
With QB John Mateer deciding to skip the NFL Draft to return for the 2026 season, Arbuckle finally has the continuity he needs. They aren't just running the ball into a wall anymore. You’ve seen the shift. More tempo. More vertical shots. More trust in the receivers. Having Emmett Jones and DeMarco Murray on the staff means the recruiting at the skill positions hasn't missed a beat, but Arbuckle is the one putting the puzzle together.
Honestly, the dynamic between Venables and Arbuckle is fascinating. You have one of the most intense defensive minds in history paired with a guy who wants to score 50 points a game. It took a season to mesh, but by the time they hit the 2025 postseason, it actually started to look like a cohesive team rather than two separate units playing different sports.
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The Witten factor and the Cowboys connection
Bringing Jason Witten into the fold wasn't just about the name on the jersey. Oklahoma has had a massive problem with tight end retention. The portal was a revolving door for that position group for two years straight. Venables needed someone who could walk into a living room and command instant respect.
Witten, fresh off winning state titles at Liberty Christian, brings that "pro" mentality. And let’s be real, having Witten and DeMarco Murray—two former Cowboys teammates—on the same staff is a recruiting cheat code in the state of Texas. It’s a bold gamble, though. Witten hasn't coached at the college level before. He’s learning the recruiting grind on the fly, but the word around Norman is that the players are obsessed with his detail-oriented approach.
Stability in the trenches
While everyone focuses on the flashy hires, Bill Bedenbaugh is still the glue. He’s entering his 14th season in Norman. In a world of coaching carousels and NIL chaos, Bedenbaugh is the one constant. If the Oklahoma coaching staff football operations have a "secret sauce," it’s the offensive line room. Even when the coordinators change, the "Joe Moore Award" mentality stays the same.
Todd Bates also deserves a shoutout. He’s the Associate Head Coach and basically the "Minister of Culture" for the defense. While Venables is drawing up blitzes on a napkin, Bates is the one keeping the defensive tackles motivated. That interior defensive line was a major reason why OU survived their second year in the SEC.
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Looking ahead to 2026
The pressure hasn't totally evaporated. Venables actually took a $1 million pay cut for the 2025 season to help with the school's revenue-sharing efforts. That tells you everything you need to know about his commitment. He’s not here for the paycheck; he’s here to prove that he can win in the SEC.
The staff is now fully "his." There are no leftovers from the previous regime other than Bedenbaugh. This is a group of coaches built specifically to handle the physical toll of a 12-game SEC schedule.
If you're watching the Sooners this year, keep an eye on how the "Co-Coordinator" roles on defense actually function. It's a lot of cooks in the kitchen. Between Valai, Bates, Dreiling, and Goodwin, there’s a lot of ego to manage. But as long as Venables is the one with the headset and the final say, the hierarchy seems clear.
To stay ahead of the curve with this team, watch the recruiting trail in North Texas over the next six months. The Witten/Murray combo is expected to land at least two five-star prospects who were previously leaning toward Austin or College Station. Also, keep an eye on the transfer portal window in May; Arbuckle is still looking for one more veteran tackle to solidify the blind side for Mateer. The foundation is set, but the execution in the SEC "meat grinder" is what will define this staff's legacy.