by David Hood -- Senior Writer - Thursday, January 19, 2012 12:08 AM

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Photos: IconSMI

CLEMSON – A flurry of rumors and innuendo became reality late Wednesday evening as Brent Venables the co-defensive coordinator at Oklahoma, confirmed to several sources late Wednesday evening that he has accepted the same position at Clemson University.

Venables interviewed for the position this past weekend, and confirmed to sources close to him Wednesday night that he was headed to take over for the departed Kevin SteeleKevin Steele
Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
View Full Profile. An announcement could come as early as Thursday with a press conference expected for Friday so that Venables can hit the recruiting trail as early as next week.

Clemson head coach Dabo SwinneyDabo Swinney
Head Coach
View Full Profile is flying to Houston early Thursday to participate in the Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards ceremonies.

Venables was on campus last Saturday and Sunday, and his wife Julie flew in after he did as the couple met with Swinney to discuss Venables taking over for Steele. Venables’ deal still has to be approved by the Clemson Board of Trustees, but he is expected to make between $750,000 and $1 million a year.

Venables’ most rost recent contract at Oklahoma was for $440,000 a year.

Venables has coached for the past 13 years in Norman, where he has coached 12 NFL Draft picks and four NFL free agents. Linebackers under his direction have been named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the year five times and Big 12 Defensive NOY five times. Also, he has two Butkus Award winners and two other Butkus finalists along with a Bednarik Award winner.

The Sooners finished 55th this season in total defense (376.15 YPG) and 53rd last season (361.86 YPG).

The 2009 defense was No. 2 in the Big 12 in both scoring and total defense (No. 7 nationally in both). The unit also ranked No. 5 nationally in sacks (3.08), No. 5 in red zone defense (71%), No. 7 in rushing defense (88.6), No. 8 in tackles for loss (7.8) and No. 10 in pass efficiency defense.

Despite facing 11 of the top 50 scoring offenses in 2008, the Sooner defense was among the top three in nearly every Big 12 category in 2008. Oklahoma was No. 4 nationally in sacks and No. 20 in rushing defense.

Venables meets Swinney’s criteria of a coach that runs a 4-3 defense, but has also been known to employ the “Endy” in passing situations against some of the better passing attacks in the Big 12. The “Endy” utilizes four defensive ends along the line of scrimmage instead of just two ends with one or two tackles.

Venables Bio

Coaching History

2004-present - Oklahoma - Associate Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator, LBs

1999-2003 - Oklahoma - Co-Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers

1998 - Kansas State - Defensive Run Game Coordinator

1996-98 - Kansas State - Linebackers

1993-95 - Kansas State - Graduate Assistant

Personal

Hometown - Salina, Kan.

High School - Salina South, 1989

College - Kansas State, 1992

Family - wife, Julie,
sons, Jake and Tyler,
daughters, Laney and Addie

Bowl Games Coached (18)

2011 Fiesta - Oklahoma

2009 Sun - Oklahoma

2009 BCS Championship - Oklahoma

2008 Fiesta - Oklahoma

2007 Fiesta - Oklahoma

2005 Holiday - Oklahoma

2005 Orange - Oklahoma

2004 Sugar - Oklahoma

2003 Rose - Oklahoma

2002 Cotton - Oklahoma

2001 Orange - Oklahoma

1999 Independence - Oklahoma

1998 Alamo - Kansas State

1998 Fiesta - Kansas State

1997 Cotton - Kansas State

1995 Holiday - Kansas State

1994 Aloha - Kansas State

1993 Copper - Kansas State

Prominent Pupils

• Travis Lewis (Oklahoma), 2008 Big 12 Defensive NOY, 2008 Big 12 Defensive FOY

• Keenan Clayton (Oklahoma) Eagles

• Curtis Lofton (Oklahoma), Falcons, All-American, 2007 AP Big 12 Defensive POY

• Rufus Alexander (Oklahoma), First Team All-American, 2006 Big 12 Defensive POY

• Clint Ingram (Oklahoma), Saints

• Lance Mitchell (Oklahoma) 2004 All-Big 12, Butkus Award finalist, 2002 Big 12 Defensive NOY

• Teddy Lehman (Oklahoma), Jaguars, 2003 Butkus, Bednarik Award winner, All-American

• Rocky Calmus (Oklahoma) 2001 Butkus Award winner, 2001 Big 12 Defensive POY, All-American

• Torrance Marshall (Oklahoma) First Team All-American, Big 12 Defensive NOY

• Brandon Moore (Oklahoma)

• Jeff Kelly (Kansas State) All-American, 1998 Big 12 Def. POY, 1997 Big 12 Def. NOY

• Ben Leber (Kansas State), Vikings

• Mark Simoneau (Kansas State), Saints, All-American, Butkus Finalist, 1999 Big 12 Def. POY

• Percell Gaskins (Kansas State)

Accomplishments as a Player

• HM All-Big Eight in 1992 with 124 tackles (second on team), including a team-leading 68 unassisted tackles.

• Standout LB at Garden City (Kan.) Community College where he was an All-American after recording 276 tackles.

• Class 5A Defensive POY, Kansas Sports Magazine.

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David Hood can be reached at davidhood@tigernet.com

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