Division 1
Longtime football exec hired as OU football general manager
NORMAN — The University of Oklahoma has hired Jim Nagy as the General Manager for Football, implementing a progressive new structure designed to address the evolving landscape of college athletics. Nagy will work alongside head coach Brent Venables to build a roster capable of competing at a championship level.
Since 2018, Nagy has served as the Executive Director of the Senior Bowl, the premier college all-star game that showcases draft-eligible players. In this role, he managed the evaluation, recruitment, and selection of top NFL prospects while cultivating relationships across college football and all 32 NFL front offices. Over the past five years, the Senior Bowl has produced more than 100 drafted players annually, including 110 selections in last year’s draft, with 45 of the top 100 players and 10 first-round picks.
Before taking over the Senior Bowl, Nagy spent 18 years in NFL scouting with the Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, and Washington Redskins. During that time, his teams appeared in six Super Bowls, winning four Lombardi Trophies. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan.
“This is a new era in intercollegiate athletics at one of the greatest college football programs in the country,” Nagy said. “The legacy of excellence at OU is a testament to the leadership and commitment to competing at the highest level. I am honored to bring my experience to this program and look forward to working with Coach Venables and his staff to achieve great things.”
As general manager, Nagy will oversee roster management, player recruitment, evaluation, retention, and compensation. He will also navigate the complexities of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness), the transfer portal, revenue-sharing models, and scholarship regulations.
OU’s decision to hire a general manager reflects a shift toward a pro-style organizational model, with Nagy and Venables working side-by-side, each focusing on specific areas of expertise. To assist with this transition, Randall Stephenson has been appointed Chair of Football and Special Advisor to the university’s president and athletic director. In this role, Stephenson will oversee the general manager and head coach while providing strategic guidance on budgeting and operations.
“I am pleased to have worked with President Joe Harroz and the Board of Regents to bring about this progressive change,” said OU Athletic Director Joe Castiglione. “The evolving landscape of college football demands innovative leadership, particularly in managing player contracts, multiple recruitment pathways, and resource allocation. Jim Nagy brings invaluable experience, relationships, and a deep understanding of roster building that will strengthen OU football for years to come.”
Stephenson echoed those sentiments, emphasizing that the business of college football has fundamentally changed, requiring schools to adapt or risk falling behind.
“The freedom now afforded to athletes through NIL and the transfer portal demands a modernized approach,” Stephenson said. “Hiring a GM with the experience and connections Nagy brings to OU is a crucial step toward meeting these demands.”
Venables welcomed the addition, noting that managing a roster now requires a full-time focus.
“Nagy’s extensive experience in scouting and recruiting will pay dividends across our roster and ultimately on the field,” Venables said. “I look forward to working alongside him and Athletics Director Castiglione as we continue building a championship program.”
University President Joe Harroz expressed confidence in the new structure, emphasizing OU’s commitment to remaining at the forefront of college athletics.
“The future of OU Athletics is bright,” Harroz said. “With the leadership and expertise we have assembled, I am confident we will continue to build championship football teams for years to come.”
NORMAN – Oklahoma Sooners head football coach Brent Venables has been named to the 2025 Dodd Trophy Preseason Watch List, recognizing him among the nation’s top coaches heading into the upcoming season.
The Dodd Trophy, presented by PNC Bank, honors the head coach of a team that achieves success on the field, in the classroom, and within the community. Venables is one of 25 coaches nationally named to the preseason list.
Venables, who enters his fourth season leading the Sooners, guided Oklahoma through its final years in the Big 12 and into its inaugural season in the SEC. Under his leadership, the program has continued to recruit at an elite level while emphasizing academic performance and community involvement.
The annual award, named after legendary Georgia Tech coach Bobby Dodd, evaluates coaches based on their program’s Academic Progress Rate (APR), with Oklahoma posting a strong score of 993 for the 2023-24 academic year.
Venables is joined on this year’s watch list by notable coaches including Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer, Georgia’s Kirby Smart, Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, and Texas’ Steve Sarkisian.
The winner of the Dodd Trophy will be announced at the end of the 2025 season.
NORMAN – University of Oklahoma Athletic Director Joe Castiglione is set to announce his retirement on Tuesday, according to widespread media reports.
Castiglione has served as the University of Oklahoma’s athletic director since 1998, overseeing one of the most successful eras in the school’s athletic history.
During his tenure, Oklahoma’s athletic programs have flourished on the national stage. Castiglione hired football coach Bob Stoops in 1999, a move that revitalized the Sooners program and led to the 2000 national championship. Under his leadership, OU football has continued to rank among the nation’s elite, with multiple Big 12 titles and College Football Playoff appearances.
Castiglione has also been instrumental in elevating other sports. The university’s softball team has become a dominant force, winning several national championships under coach Patty Gasso. OU’s gymnastics programs have likewise secured multiple national titles during his administration.
In addition to competitive success, Castiglione prioritized academic achievement, facility improvements, and financial stability within the department. Major projects under his leadership include renovations to Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, construction of new training and academic facilities, and the expansion of softball and baseball stadiums.
Known for his steady leadership and vision, Castiglione guided Oklahoma through its upcoming transition from the Big 12 Conference to the Southeastern Conference, positioning the university for continued national relevance in the changing landscape of college athletics.
Prior to joining Oklahoma, Castiglione served as athletic director at the University of Missouri from 1994 to 1998. He is widely respected among his peers and has received numerous national honors, including being named Athletic Director of the Year by Sports Business Journal and induction into multiple halls of fame.
TULSA – Cophie Anderson has been named the 12th head coach of the Oral Roberts University women’s basketball program, Athletic Director Tim Johnson announced Monday.
Anderson, who served as ORU’s associate head coach for three seasons, helped guide the Golden Eagles to back-to-back 20-win seasons and postseason appearances in the WNIT and WBIT. The team finished 24-9 in 2024-25, marking the program’s first consecutive 20-win seasons since 2010-12.
ORU President Dr. William M. Wilson praised Anderson’s leadership, highlighting her faith and commitment to student-athletes. Johnson echoed those sentiments, calling Anderson a vital part of the program’s recent success and expressing excitement for the future under her leadership.
During her tenure as associate head coach, Anderson played a key role in ORU’s offensive success, helping the Golden Eagles rank in the top 20 nationally in scoring for three straight seasons, including top-10 finishes in 2023-24 and 2024-25. She was instrumental in recruiting and developing players, with five Golden Eagles earning Summit League postseason honors in 2023-24, including Freshman of the Year and Newcomer of the Year.
Anderson previously coached at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, where she helped lead the Lady Bulldogs to seven NCAA Division II Tournament appearances, four Great American Conference Tournament Championships, and a national runner-up finish in 2019. Under her guidance, SWOSU ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring offense in seven of nine seasons, averaging over 80 points per game five times.
As a player, Anderson competed at Fresno State from 2001-05, earning three Western Athletic Conference All-Academic selections. She graduated with a degree in Kinesiology.
A native of Arlington, Texas, Anderson is married to Wayne Anderson, and they have three children.
ORU will introduce Anderson at a press conference Tuesday, April 1, at 3:30 p.m. inside the Mabee Center.
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