Jim Nagy Delivers Big Statement After Brent Venables’ Million-Dollar Sacrifice at Oklahoma

When Brent Venables took over as Oklahoma’s head coach in 2021, it didn’t take long for fans to see he “got it.” Yes, he understood the Sooners’ culture right away, and that made him a favorite in Norman. Although the wins haven’t piled up just yet, but his imprint on the program is undeniable. Still, words can only go so far. And now, Venables has backed it up with a bold move to secure Oklahoma’s future. A move that some other teams’ coaches have also taken.

According to USA Today, Brent Venables took a $1M pay cut. Instead of earning $8.55 M this year, the Oklahoma HC will bring in $7.55 M. And it wasn’t forced. It was his idea. Remember back in February, Venables stepped up to give back, aiming to boost Oklahoma’s revenue-sharing efforts. Following that, AD Joe Castiglione praised the gesture, calling it a true act of leadership. “It really shows a lot of leadership on Brent’s part. He came forward with the idea, knowing there were needs for our program. He wanted to help,” said Joe. And now, OU GM Jim Nagy has stepped in with a powerful statement backing Brent Venables, adding even more weight to the head coach’s bold decision.

On August 29, just hours before Oklahoma’s season opener against Illinois State, the Sooners dropped a hype post captioned, “It’s (almost) football time in Oklahoma 🕔.” The clip showed Brent Venables laying down white paint on the field, guided by Bob Ross on the TV screen in front of him. The creative touch quickly caught fire, and OU GM Jim Nagy couldn’t help but chime in. “This is so good on every level. Take a bow, OU creative team,” wrote Nagy, giving Venables and the Sooners’ media crew a standing ovation of his own. On the flip side, Venables knows that in the SEC, every blade of grass comes with no room for error.

Remember at SEC Media Days, Brent Venables painted a vivid picture of life in the conference. “It’s a one-possession league,” he said. “Every patch of grass is occupied when they kick off on a Saturday.” So, for Venables, the lesson was clear: every inch matters. The SEC is built on trenches, elite talent at every spot, and razor-thin margins. “If you show up not ready, you’re going to get it handed to you,” he admitted, stressing that turnovers and depth decide everything. Given that, Venables made his pay-cut move, but now it became clear he wasn’t alone.

Pay cuts are hitting big names this season. Florida State’s Mike Norvell slashed $4.5 M off his salary. His deal now comes with a twist: earn it back through performance incentives. Then Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy trimmed $1 M, accepted a lighter buyout, and lost the rollover clause that once kept his deal on an endless five-year loop. Now, while Venables made this move with the future dynasty in mind, it also carries another layer of impact.

The story behind Brent Venables’ sacrifice

Oklahoma AD pulled back the curtain on Venables’ pay cut, framing it as far more than dollars and cents. “He recognized the need to retain players already on our roster and those we needed to recruit. And he wanted to help participate in the revenue-sharing formula going forward,” explained Castiglione, referring to the Sooners HC. But then he added a pointed thought that revealed just how deep the move runs.

“Perhaps I’m reading too far into this, but I think this move speaks volumes about Venables’ job security. Why would he voluntarily give up pay if he thinks he’s going to be fired at the end of the season? If he made that kind of move without those kinds of assurances, or without even thinking about it, he’s a much greater man than me.” And interestingly, Venables’ sacrifice lines up perfectly with Jim Nagy’s push to get bold in the transfer portal.

This offseason, the Sooners burned through most of their revenue-sharing cash just to keep their own roster intact, leaving little room to chase new stars. But now, with a little fresh change in their pocket, Oklahoma finally has the flexibility to strike bigger, and go after the kind of talent that can tilt the scales. Time will tell, but the future looks promising.