Valai announced; Venables staff finalized
Just had to wait for the national championship to be played before Oklahoma could officially finalize its coaching
There ya go.
OKLAHOMA HEAD COACH BRENT VENABLES:
"Jay is one of the up-and-coming coaches in college football. He brings a tremendous amount of passion and energy to the job, as well as a real love for the game and for relationship-building. He's experienced the game collegiately at the highest level as a player at Wisconsin and has gained terrific coaching experience on the NFL and college levels. He'll bring a lot of great ideas from a scheme standpoint, he's one of the best teachers in the game and he's got a great reputation as a recruiter. He's going to be a head coach sooner rather than later. Sometimes you know when guys have 'it,' and Jay certainly has it.
"I met him on the recruiting trail years ago and immediately connected with him. Our philosophies meshed and I really liked his passion for the game and his desire to be a great leader. So we exchanged numbers and stayed in touch. He loves his craft and is mature beyond his years regarding X's and O's and the teaching of all defensive positions. I've just been drawn to his thirst for knowledge and his great sense of humility. He asked me if I minded serving as one of his mentors and I was just honored. Loved his hunger and toughness and how he had a good edge about him. We set time aside to clinic on the phone or even in person, and would also talk a lot about people, relationships and things like that. A lot of our values aligned as husbands and fathers, and certainly as coaches in this profession. Really excited for Jay and his wife and children to get to Norman. Our players will love his expertise, his passion and his ability to connect."
CO-DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR/PASS DEFENSE/CORNERBACKS AND NICKEL BACKS JAY VALAI:
"Coach Venables and I met on the road recruiting years ago and he has always been awesome to me as a mentor. We both love football so much and I've loved talking about the nuances of the game with him. Just going back and forth with ideas and thoughts, scheme adjustments and so on. We just really clicked. But I also really admire his passion. That's one thing you can't hide in life, and Coach Venables is one of the most passionate and authentic human beings you could ever meet.
"Alabama has been awesome and Nick Saban is the G.O.A.T. I learned so much working under him and we have a tremendous relationship. He and Miss Terry have been amazing to my family and me. But to get the opportunity to be closer to home working for an Oklahoma program I grew up watching while living in Dallas and to work with Brent and be a cook in the kitchen with him is special. I'm excited. It's beyond a blessing to be part of Sooner Nation."
