Once again this offseason, Brent Venables is searching for a new coordinator at Oklahoma.
Venables is now on the hunt for a defensive coordinator after Zac Alley left OU to be the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at West Virginia. Venables also already had to hire Ben Arbuckle from Washington State to be the Sooners' offensive coordinator to replace Seth Littrell, who Venables fired midseason.
There's a chance Venables doesn't look as far as he did this time as he did to find Arbuckle. OU has plenty of in-house options to fill the void and there's reason to do so. I already wrote in detail about that and those candidates here.
But if Venables does choose to look elsewhere for a new defensive coordinator, these are some possible (realistic) options.
Mike Stoops
Similar to hiring someone in-house, Venables has proven he prefers hiring guys he's familar with. Venables and Stoops were co-defensive coordinators together at OU under Bob Stoops in 1999-2003. That stint included the Sooners' last national championship in 2000.
Lincoln Riley fired Mike Stoops as OU's co-defensive coordinator in 2018. He hasn't been a defensive coordinator since and has most recently served as inside linebackers coach at Kentucky under his other brother, Mark.
Bob Stoops
OK, so I know I said realistic options earlier. But while this seems like the wildest possibility, it also somehow feels like the most logical.
Stoops is currently the head coach of the UFL's Arlington Renegades and hasn't coached college football since subbing in to lead the Sooners as interim coach in the Alamo Bowl after Lincoln Riley left. That right there proves Stoops, who is the winningest head coach in Sooner history, will step up whenever OU needs him.
There's already a ton of familiarity here between the university and Venables, as Venables was Stoops' defensive coordinator for 13 seasons. Stoops is also still around Norman and has stayed involved with the program even since his retirement and UFL coaching venture.
For those that think Stoops returning to OU to be a defensive coordinator seems too crazy, I once covered a press conference where Stoops was announced as the head coach of a brand new professional football team after coming out of retirement. It was like a dream. Andrew Luck's dad was even there. Even that instance proves that Stoops goes to the beat of his own drum.
Stoops defies logic, so if that's the only thing stopping this from happening, then it's definitely possible.
Brian Newberry
This is a name fresh on the mind of Sooner Nation.
Newberry has been extremely successful in two seasons as Navy's head coach, including just putting together a 10-3 record and beating OU 21-20 in the Armed Forces Bowl. But Newberry was open leading up to the bowl matchup that he was Sooner bred as an Oklahoma native and even still cheers for the Sooners.
Growing up a Sooners fan, Navy coach Brian Newberry will face favorite team in Armed Forces Bowl
A defensive-minded coach, this could be a dream opportunity for Newberry even already as a head coach. He could also see it as a chance to get his foot in the door early for the head job if Venables is fired at the end of 2025.
Pat Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald was one of the best defensive minds in college football before getting fired at Northwestern two years ago. He's just been helping out at a Chicago high school since.
This would be a big name with a lot of experience already available with no strings attached.
Wes Goodwin
This has been one of the most popular names being thrown around.
Goodwin replaced Venables as Clemson's defensive coordinator but his job status is shaky right now. Although the Tigers struggled this season, Goodwin led a top-10 defense in 2023.
If he does actually become available, then Goodwin will certainly be a top option for Venables.