Just about a week before the Oklahoma Sooners are set to begin spring practices and jump start the 2026 college football season, head coach Brent Venables reportedly made an unexpected quiet addition to his coaching staff.
Doug Samuels of FootballScoop reported on Tuesday that former FCS assistant Aaron Cheatwood will join OU's staff in an unknown role. Cheatwood will be the fourth new assistant added to Venables' staff this offseason as the Sooners start spring camp on Wednesday, March 25.
FCS coach Aaron Cheatwood reportedly joining Sooners
Cheatwood was most recently the linebackers coach and defensive run game coordinator at Northern Arizona at the FCS level for two seasons. His unit was instrumental in the Lumberjacks having one of the best defenses in the FCS. In 2025, Cheatwood had linebacker Travis Arena named All-Big Sky Conference First Team and Brandon Wong was on the second team.
The jump to OU is Cheatwood's first gig at the Power Four level after continuing to rise through the ranks during his coaching career. Before Northern Arizona, Cheatwood was a defensive analyst at New Mexico State as his only other experience in the FBS. While Cheatwood was at New Mexico State, OU inside linebackers coach Nate Dreiling was the defensive coordinator. That connection likely led Cheatwood to Norman.
Cheatwood started his career as the defensive line coach at Arizona Western College, where he also played, in 2007 before an eight-year stop at Yuma Catholic High School in Arizona, where he served as offensive line coach, defensive line coach, defensive backs coach, quarterbacks coach, defensive coordinator, offensive coordinator, assistant athletic director and head coach. He was also the defensive coordinator at Garden City Community College.
This is the first addition Venables made this offseason that wasn't a replacement and the second new coach to the defensive side of the ball. OU also hired Lamar Morgan away from Michigan to replace Jay Valai as the Sooners' cornerbacks coach.
Cheatwood wasn't a splash hire and won't make headlines, but it's still a win-win for the Sooners to bring on another experienced mind to the staff.