Joe Castiglione's retirement ushers in Roger Denny: A strategic hire for the Oklahoma Sooners' future in the modern college landscape
The University of Oklahoma is poised to name Roger Denny, the current Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Operating Officer at the University of Illinois, as its next Athletic Director, according to recent reports.
This move comes amid a transformative period for college athletics, where legal expertise, business acumen, and experience navigating complex financial and labor landscapes are increasingly prized in leadership roles.
Denny's expected appointment follows the long and successful tenure of Joe Castiglione, who has led OU Athletics for over two decades. Castiglione oversaw remarkable achievements, including multiple national championships in football, wrestling, and other sports, as well as the Sooners' transition to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in 2024.
His departure has prompted OU officials to seek a successor equipped for the "new era" of collegiate sports, one defined by revenue-sharing models, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) collectives, conference realignments, and the potential integration of private equity investments.
What sets Denny apart is his strong legal background, which Oklahoma administrators have highlighted as a key attraction. Before entering full-time athletic administration, Denny worked as a partner at the law firm Spencer Fane in St. Louis, specializing in sports law, compensation analysis for coaches and administrators, and contract negotiations.
He contributed to industry reports on coach contract extensions at Power Four schools and advised on high-stakes hiring processes. This experience positions him well to handle emerging challenges like collective bargaining in a post-House v. NCAA settlement world, where schools may face union-like structures with athletes, as well as deals involving private equity firms eyeing college sports revenue streams and mergers and acquisitions-style conference shifts or program expansions.
Denny joined the University of Illinois in July 2021 as Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director and Chief Operating Officer under Director Josh Whitman. He quickly rose to Deputy Director of Athletics in June 2025, serving as the second-in-command and overseeing day-to-day operations when Whitman was unavailable.
In his role at Illinois, Denny supervised internal operations, including the business office, facilities and capital projects, human resources, data and business intelligence, and sports technology units.
A major part of his portfolio included serving as the sport administrator for the football program over the last four years. This oversight came during a resurgence for Illinois football under head coach Bret Bielema, whom Denny worked closely with to elevate the team's competitiveness.
The Illini achieved greater national prominence, with improved recruiting, on-field performance, and facility enhancements contributing to the program's upward trajectory. Denny's hands-on involvement in football—a revenue driver and cultural cornerstone at major programs like Oklahoma—demonstrates his understanding of the sport's central role in athletic departments.
Prior to Illinois, Denny's career blended legal consulting with athletic administration. He was a finalist for athletic director positions, including at Missouri State University in 2024, where he outlined ambitious plans for facilities investment and budget growth.
His resume also includes advising on coach searches and developing commercial strategies, such as Illinois' "Illini ERA" initiative to boost revenue and fan engagement.
For Oklahoma, Denny represents a forward-thinking hire in an era where athletic directors must act as CEOs of multimillion-dollar enterprises. The Sooners face ongoing adjustments to SEC competition, expanded playoff formats, and new revenue models that could include direct payments to athletes.
Denny's blend of legal savvy, operational oversight, and football-specific experience aligns with the university's need for a leader who can safeguard OU's storied traditions while innovating for future success.
As the hire appears imminent, fans and stakeholders will watch closely to see how Denny navigates the high expectations in Norman.
If finalized, his arrival signals Oklahoma's intent to prioritize strategic, business-oriented leadership to maintain its status as a powerhouse in the evolving landscape of college athletics.