Defense staff changes announced by Brent Venables include a split from DC Ted Roof.

NORMAN — Ted Roof, the linebackers coach and defensive coordinator for the University of Oklahoma, and Brent Venables, the head football coach, announced on Thursday that they have mutually decided to part ways.

Roof played for the Sooners for the previous two seasons.

“I have the utmost respect and appreciation for Ted,” declared Venables, who recruited Roof out of Clemson in December 2021. “I gave him the option to stay on our staff in a different capacity and informed him on Wednesday that I had decided to take a different approach at defensive coordinator. He clarified that he would like to continue coaching and will look for a different school to do so.

“Ted is a highly skilled coach and educator, and his players enjoy competing against him.

OU improved in both categories in 2023, finishing 46th (23.5 ppg) and 78th (389.4 ypg) in total defense (461.0 ypg) after placing 98th in scoring defense (30.0 ppg) and 121st in total defense (461.0 ypg) in 2022. Additionally, in terms of interceptions (20), turnovers gained (26), tackles for loss per game (7.5), tackles for loss per game (7.3), and third-down conversion percentage defense (.311; up from.409 in 2022) it ranks second nationally in 2023.