The University of Oklahoma in their search for a new athletics director opted for operational efficiency over proven fundraising power, in a crucial time in college sports
The University of Oklahoma's athletic department has long been a beacon of excellence in college sports. From the gridiron glory of seven national football championships to consistent competitiveness in basketball, baseball, softball, and beyond, OU has maintained a standard that few programs can match.
So, when longtime athletic director Joe Castiglione announced his retirement after nearly three decades of transformative leadership, the expectation was for a splashy hire befitting one of the nation's top AD openings.
Instead, OU settled for Roger Denny, a deputy AD from Illinois with no prior experience as a full-fledged athletic director. This decision feels underwhelming at best and potentially detrimental at worst, especially in an era where fundraising, NIL deals, and donor excitement are paramount to staying atop the SEC.
Let's start with the context. OU isn't just any program; it's a powerhouse with historic roots, top-tier facilities, and a move to the ultra-competitive SEC that demands visionary leadership. Castiglione's tenure was marked by stability, innovative hires like Bob Stoops and Patty Gasso, and a knack for keeping the Sooners relevant across multiple sports.
His successor needed to build on that legacy, not merely maintain it. Yet, the university opted for Denny, who has spent the last few years as Illinois' Deputy Director of Athletics and Chief Operating Officer. While his resume includes overseeing business operations, facilities, and camps, Illinois is far from a blue-blood athletic department.
The Fighting Illini have enjoyed some recent successes—football finished 8-4 in 2025, and men's basketball has been on a hot streak—but overall, they're solidly mid-tier in the Big Ten, lacking the consistent national contention that defines OU.
Hiring Denny feels akin to poaching one of Bret Bielema's assistants to replace Brent Venables as head football coach. Sure, it might work out, but it's a low-risk, low-reward move that screams complacency.
Denny's background as a licensed attorney with expertise in contract negotiations and collective bargaining is valuable—every department needs legal savvy in today's NIL and transfer portal landscape.
But leading an entire athletic empire? That's a different ballgame. OU requires a proven fundraiser who can rally donors, secure massive NIL collectives, and inspire investments in cutting-edge facilities to compete with SEC giants like Alabama and Georgia.
Denny's track record at Illinois doesn't scream "money magnet"; instead, it highlights operational efficiency, which is necessary but not sufficient for a program of OU's caliber.
This hire bears an uncanny resemblance to Oklahoma State's appointment of Chad Weiberg as AD in 2021.
Weiberg, a steady but unflashy administrator with deep OSU ties, has overseen a department that's competent but rarely transcendent. His contract was recently extended through 2029, but OSU remains in OU's shadow, plagued by inconsistent fundraising and coaching hires.
Denny could be Weiberg 2.0: boring, bland, and risk-averse, potentially setting OU back at a time when aggressive leadership is essential. In the revenue-sharing era post-House v. NCAA, ADs must be charismatic visionaries who excite boosters and alumni, not just behind-the-scenes operators.
The real head-scratcher is why OU overlooked candidates like Zac Selmon, who would have been a home run. Selmon, currently the AD at Mississippi State, has deep Sooner roots. Born in Norman, he's the son of OU legend Dewey Selmon and nephew of Hall of Famer Lee Roy Selmon.
He worked in OU's athletic department from 2010 to 2023, rising to deputy AD for external engagement before taking the Mississippi State job.
Selmon knows the ins and outs of Norman, has SEC experience, and his family name alone would galvanize fans and donors. Imagine the excitement: a Selmon returning to elevate the program his relatives helped build. He's proven his fundraising chops, securing an $8 million donation at MSU—the second-largest in school history.
Selmon would have been personally invested, bringing connections and passion that an outsider like Denny simply can't match.
In fairness, Denny might surprise everyone and thrive. His legal acumen could navigate the complexities of modern college athletics effectively. But for a program with OU's resources and ambitions, this feels like settling.
The Sooners deserve a leader who embodies boldness, not bureaucracy. If Denny falters in fundraising or coach retention, this hire could haunt OU for years, especially as rivals in the SEC pull ahead.
Time will tell, but the initial reaction from many fans is one of disappointment—a far cry from the enthusiasm Castiglione inspired.
OU athletics is too storied to risk on an unproven commodity; they needed a star, not a supporting actor.