Brent Venables Credits Bill Snyder for Coaching Influence
Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables sat down for an interview with On3’s Andy Staples and discussed his time playing under legendary head coach Bill Snyder.
Venables was one of four linebackers from the 1998 Kansas State team to step into coaching/administration following the conclusion of his playing career alongside Texas Tech AD Kirby Hocutt, Tennessee special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler, and Memphis AD Laird Veatch.
“I thought we were all a bunch of misfits and underdogs,” Venables said. “But foundationally, there was a belief system. Bill Snyder is in the Hall of Fame for a reason. He’s a developer of men. I think that’s the greatest calling of coaching: the development of people. We were bought in, and we were all in before it became a popular slogan. Committed guys that believed in big team, little me.”
Venables brought that identity to Oklahoma in their final season as members of the Big 12 Conference and credited coach Snyder as one of the coaches who influenced his coaching style.
“What sacrifice, what work ethic, outworking people, out-hustling people, out-thinking people, creating value for yourself?” Venables said, “Loving one another, doing it through relationships, being passionate, and loving what you’re doing. I’ve always believed this. You’ll never be great at anything if you don’t love all of it. I think that they all had this capability to get more out of less. They were a believer in vision, and they did a great job of creating vision constantly and pushing guys past their limits without breaking our spirits. That’s a unique ability.”
Venables and the Sooners will play as members of the SEC for the first time on Saturday, August 31st, against the Temple Owls.
