University of Oklahoma Appoints Roger Denny to Lead New Era of OU Athletics

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NORMAN, OKLA. – The University of Oklahoma today named Roger Denny as its 12th Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Programs and Director of Athletics, a key appointment at a defining moment in college sports. Denny, a successful corporate attorney with deep legal background and athletics leadership experience at the University of Illinois, will lead OU Athletics to expand opportunities for student-athletes while building on OU’s tradition of championship excellence in a new era for one of college athletics’ most storied programs.

Randall Stephenson, former CEO of AT&T who has led large-scale organizations through disruptive change across business, media, and sports and who has served as Chair and Special Advisor to the President for OU Athletics since 2024, will remain in that position.

“College athletics is undergoing profound disruption that requires us to think well beyond conventional structures and roles,” said OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. “In Roger we have the next natural leader who understands both the complexity of the moment and the opportunities it presents. It is clear Roger will advance the bold vision needed for OU to continue leading in a highly dynamic environment.

“We have already seen the transformational difference Randall has made to OU Athletics with the success of football this past season,” Harroz added. “His continued engagement will ensure a smooth leadership transition to a new era of Sooner athletics.”

Denny was selected following a national search conducted by a 12-member committee representing key stakeholders across the University community. The search was supported by The Athlete Group (TAG), a strategic advisory and executive search firm with experience across collegiate and professional sports. Denny succeeds Joe Castiglione, one of the nation’s preeminent collegiate athletics administrators and the longest-tenured athletics director in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Under Castiglione’s leadership, OU achieved sustained, across-the-board excellence, including 26 of the university’s 45 all-time national championships, record-setting fundraising, major facilities growth, and unprecedented academic success.

“I want to thank the OU Board of Regents, President Harroz, and the search committee for their confidence and the thoughtful process that brought us together,” Denny said. “Oklahoma has a proud tradition in college athletics, and I am honored to join a university that competes with purpose and pride. My focus will be on putting student-athletes first in everything we do, providing them the resources and support to excel in competition and in life. I look forward to working with Randall, our coaches, staff, and the OU community to build on this legacy while winning national championships now and in the years ahead.”

Denny spent nearly 15 years practicing law, focusing on executive compensation, tax, corporate finance, and licensing. Before joining Illinois, he was a partner at SpencerFane LLP in St. Louis. His prior legal experience includes the representation of college athletics departments and sports businesses in a wide variety of critical and complex transactions, including executive compensation and collective bargaining matters. Denny’s legal experience also provides a foundation for leading major athletics programs, overseeing coaching contracts, managing complex operations, and identifying opportunities that expand student-athlete success in a disrupted college athletics landscape.

Denny comes most recently from the University of Illinois, where he serves as Deputy Director of Athletics and oversees business strategy and department operations. Since arriving in Champaign in 2021, he has contributed to one of the most dramatic turnaround stories in college athletics. Denny is the sport administrator for the football program, led by head coach Bret Bielema, which has won 19 games the last two seasons. Illinois’ four-year growth in season ticket sales, student season tickets, and average attendance is among the best in the country. In addition, the Illinois men’s basketball program has won three Big Ten titles in the last five years, and the women’s basketball program has undergone a national resurgence with regular appearances in the NCAA Tournament.

Denny oversees all athletics’ business operations at Illinois, including a budget that approaches $200 million, and he has played a central role in Illinois’ name-image-likeness strategy, expanding opportunities for Illinois student-athletes. He has become increasingly involved in fundraising and played a pivotal role in securing a $100 million gift announced in fall 2025, the largest in Illinois history. He leads Illinois’ facilities planning, highlighted by extensive upgrades to Gies Memorial Stadium, and serves as the athletic program’s primary representative in all head coach negotiations.

Denny earned a bachelor’s degree from Southeast Missouri State University, a law degree from St. Louis University, and an LLM in tax from Washington University in St. Louis.

During his time as Special Advisor to the President for OU Athletics, Stephenson has been instrumental in developing a new structure for college football.  He has overseen long-term budget planning for the Athletics Department, restructured student-athlete training and health, and advised the President and Board of Regents on how to adapt to industry disruption.

“Few industries have undergone as rapid and radical disruption as college athletics, and I am grateful for the bold actions that the Board of Regents and President Harroz have supported in our football operations,” said Stephenson. “Roger is the ideal candidate to lead Sooner Athletics with his deep legal background serving both the professional and college sports industries. He is a proven operator with a competitive intensity and drive to win. His passion for college athletics, student-athletes, coaches, and staff is the right recipe to position OU for national championships.”

The appointments will be effective Feb. 15, pending board approval.

"I've been incredibly impressed with Roger Denny's background and experience. And when you examine everything he's achieved — with his strong legal background and all he's been involved with at Illinois in this new era of college athletics — you understand he doesn't just have experience. He has really good experience. He's touched so many areas with the Illini and in a really positive way. I'm good friends with their football coach, Bret Bielema, who called me on the day of their bowl game to tell me all the reasons Roger would be good for us at OU. I think he's ready for the opportunity and will flourish here. I'm excited to welcome him to the OU family."

Bob Stoops
 Former OU Head Football Coach 

"On behalf of Sooner Football, we are excited about the appointment of Roger Denny as the new leader of OU Athletics. We trust the process and vision that led President Harroz, Randall Stephenson, and the Board of Regents to this exciting hire. The college football landscape is constantly evolving and Roger is the type of adaptive innovator that will allow our program to maintain the expected level of excellence.”

Jim Nagy
OU General Manager for Football 

"I welcome Roger and look forward to getting to know him better. I know he will come to love working with the most dedicated and talented group of coaches and staff in the country — all focused on our highest priority of developing our athletes and relentlessly carrying out our bold vision to position OU for success across all sports. He will also find the greatest fan base in America and experience the power of everyone working together in pursuit of continued growth and competitiveness for OU as one of college athletics’ most influential brands."

Joe Castiglione
OU Vice President and Director of Athletics 

"I'm extremely confident Roger's extensive background in law and highly accomplished time as Deputy AD and COO at the University of Illinois have prepared him for this outstanding opportunity to lead the OU Athletics Department, and I couldn't be more enthusiastic about his hiring. He is more than ready to help us navigate this rapidly changing college sports landscape and keep us positioned for success now and in the future. I've heard nothing but great things about his approach to his work, how intelligent he is, how he interacts with others and how committed he is to winning."

Brent Venables
OU Head Football Coach 

"Roger's eclectic experience both inside and outside of collegiate athletics gives him a unique foundation from which to lead our athletics department. He's clearly a strategic thinker, an astute problem solver and a skilled manager of change. But it is his conviction about the purpose and value of athletics in higher education that left an indelible mark. He cares deeply about kids and coaches and is energized by the opportunity to play a key role in building and championing a system that serves multiple stakeholders while prioritizing student-athlete growth and well-being."

Sherri Coale
Former OU Head Women's Basketball Coach

"I’m excited to welcome Roger Denny to the University of Oklahoma. Roger brings a rare skill set, with proven success in the legal world, in college athletics and in navigating complex contract negotiations. In today’s landscape, that kind of experience creates real opportunities for our student-athletes. He approaches every challenge thoughtfully, with integrity and a big-picture perspective, and I’m confident he’s going to make a meaningful impact at OU and help move the university forward."

Sam Bradford
Former OU Quarterback