Making the Case for Brent Venables

Mark BlankenbakerNovember 29, 2018

Brent Venables
Age: 47
Current Job: Clemson Defensive Coordinator
Record: N/A
Bowl Record: N/A
Current Salary: $2.32M
Current Buyout: None

Why He Can Succeed At Louisville

Brent Venables is the most accomplished non-Head Coach we’ll evaluate. Brent Venables’ defenses are AWESOME and we’ve had a first hand look at them for the past 5 seasons at UofL. If you can’t beat them… hire ’em. Venables is a big part of the culture of Clemson Football and they’ve rewarded him with a new 5-year, $11.6M contract that includes no buyout if he leaves as a head coach with another program.

Venables hasn’t moved much and the K-State graduate GA’d at Kansas State immediately after his playing career ended and eventually was elevated to Linebackers coach there from 1996-98. Venables then moved to Oklahoma to join Bob Stoops’ staff as Defensive Coordinator where he stayed until 2011. He’s been at Clemson ever since. He recruits, his defense is tough and a ton of schools have inquired about him becoming a head coach…… but he’s stayed at Clemson. He’s turned down Miami, Kansas, K-State, and Texas Tech. He’s a Broyles Award Winner and continues to produce results for the Tigers.

Concerns

Zero.

Why He Might Be Attainable

If he wants to be a head coach this would be an opportunity to do that at the Power 5 level. He has been complimentary of the UofL program despite 5 wins and critical defensive plays in the first 3 games…. and then 2 blowouts. The Cards could also provide a significant pay raise on top of his already considerable salary.

Why He Might Not Be Attainable

Does he want to be a head coach? Recently Venables alluded to the fact that he would be unwilling to leave Clemson until his son graduates from the school.