Unless Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables is messing with multiple media members, and that’s not out of the question based off the will-he-won’t-he Twitter brouhaha today, it appears the longtime assistant to Bob Stoops has finally moved on to another job.
Venables to confirmed to multiple media members, including CBS’s Bruce Feldman and the Tulsa World‘s Dave Sittler, that he is indeed leaving to take the defensive coordinator job at Clemson. The rumors of a move had been building over the past several days and came to a dramatic climax today that had Clemson media reporting Venables was a close to being a “done deal” and Oklahoma media reporting he would stay.
Venables takes over for Kevin Steele, who will not return to the Tigers after they gave up 70 to West Virginia in the Orange Bowl. The terms of Venables’ contract haven’t been released, but the move reportedly took as long as it did because of steps Clemson was taking, such as a background check.
A press conference announcing the hire is set for Friday. However, the Clemson camp is still approaching the hire as a “reported” manner. From Clemson’s SID:
“I know there have been many reports concerning Clemson’s new defensive coordinator. I will not issue a release until all background checks have been completed. We don’t anticipate any problems, but until they are complete I can not confirm a hiring nor schedule a press conference... there will be no press conference today and doubt there will even be an announcement.”
With Venables, um, “reportedly” out, Mike Stoops will now likely be Oklahoma’s sole defensive coordinator.