Latest news with #Castiglione
USA Today
11-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Oklahoma head coach not interested in school's AD opening
When longtime Oklahoma Sooners athletic director Joe Castiglione announced his upcoming retirement earlier this week, OU Football fans immediately pointed to one of the other pillars of the program as a potential replacement. Bob Stoops was hired to coach the Sooners during Castiglione's first year at the helm. He brought OU back to national prominence, coaching in Norman from 1999 to 2016, and winning the national championship in 2000. Additionally, he served as the interim head coach for Oklahoma's Alamo Bowl victory over Oregon to close out the 2021 season, after Lincoln Riley bolted for Southern California. Stoops helped guide the team and fanbase through a rocky season and became even more of a legend in Sooner Nation during a difficult time. More: Social media reactions to the news of Oklahoma AD Joe Castiglione retiring Castiglione, OU's AD since 1998, isn't retiring immediately, but the search is on to replace him. However, it looks like Stoops won't be in the running for the gig. At Oklahoma's press conference on Tuesday to officially announce Castiglione's transition, Stoops was in attendance, and Carey Murdock, who covers OU for On3 Sports and SoonerScoop, asked the former coach about his interest in the AD job. "Oh no, no, no, no," Stoops said. "If I wanted another job, I'd be a head coach again. At a university or somewhere. No, no. That job would never have been for me." Stoops has coached in two versions of the XFL and currently coaches in the UFL, a spring football league. He initially coached the Dallas Renegades before the team became the Arlington Renegades. If Stoops coaches again in 2026, it'll be his fifth season of spring football. He won a championship for Arlington in the XFL in 2023. He clearly has no interest in being an administrator and even told Murdock that people still call asking if he's interested in taking a college head coaching job. As for who could replace Castiglione, it looks like Mississippi State AD Zac Selmon, who tutored under Castiglione for many years, is one of the front-runners. Texas Tech AD Kirby Hocutt is another one of the prevalent names in the conversation as well. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.
USA Today
09-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Social media reactions to the news of Oklahoma AD Joe Castiglione retiring
Big news hit Sooner Nation on Monday morning when it broke that Oklahoma Sooners athletic director Joe Castiglione would be retiring at the end of the 2025-2026 academic year. Oklahoma will begin searching for his replacement in the coming months, but Castiglione's impact on the University of Oklahoma can't be understated. From helping OU Athletics dig out of a financial hole to the 26 national championships and ushering the Sooners into the SEC and through the start of the name, image, and likeness era, Castiglione has helped OU navigate a lot of changes in collegiate athletics over the last 27 years. From media to administrators, fans and former athletes, many took to social media to express their admiration for Joe Castiglione over the last couple of days. Here's how social media reacted to the retirement of "Joe C." From the President From SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey From his son What an impact From the Protege From the Broadcast Booth From former Sooner Trent Ratterree A Legend in Admin The GOAT A Mentor to Many One of a Kind Game recognizes game Friend to Many Made a lasting Impact From Oklahoma Men's Gymanstics Coach South Carolina Head Coach Shane Beamer Oklahoma Football GM Jim Nagy Former OU Softball Star Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
Miami Herald
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Oklahoma AD Joe Castiglione retiring after 27 years
Oklahoma's Joe Castiglione, who has guided the Sooners' sports operations since 1998, will retire from his full-time role during the upcoming school year, the university announced on Monday. Castiglione's retirement will end the longest current tenure for an athletic director in major college sports. Castiglione, 67, plans to stay on as athletic director emeritus following the hiring of his successor. A news conference is scheduled for Tuesday morning to officially make the announcement. University president Joseph Harroz Jr., in a letter to the OU community, said Castiglione's retirement date is June 30, 2028, making for 30 years, according to a report from KWTV-News 9 in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma has captured 26 national championships and 117 league titles during his 27 years in Norman, which included the transition from the Big 12 to the Southeastern Conference. Castiglione was named the athletic director of the year by Sports Business Journal in 2009 and shared the award in 2018. The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics named him its top AD in 2000 and 2018. The Sooners won a national championship in football in 2000 and reached the men's basketball Final Four in 2002 and 2016. The softball program has captured eight national titles since 2000, and the women's basketball team made the Final Four in 2002, 2009 and 2010. Including his five years as the AD at Missouri before taking over at OU, a total of 32 of his former employees have gone on to become athletic directors or commissioners, per ESPN. --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2025 - All Rights Reserved
USA Today
07-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione to retire during upcoming school year
One of the longest-tenured figures in major college athletics will be calling it a career. Oklahoma athletics director Joe Castiglione, who is about to enter his 28th season in his current role, will retire, the school revealed July 7. The university sent a media advisory to confirm Castiglione will 'announce his planned retirement' at a press conference July 8. The 67-year-old Castiglione will remain with the Sooners as athletic director emeritus after the hiring of his successor, according to The Oklahoman. Castiglione, the longest-serving AD in major college sports, has led the Oklahoma athletic department since 1998, when he was hired by the Sooners following a five-year stint at Missouri. Over the past 27 years, he has established himself as one of the more decorated and heralded athletic directors in college sports, with Oklahoma teams racking up 26 national titles and 117 conference championships. Perhaps his most impactful move came in 1999, when he hired then-Florida defensive coordinator Bob Stoops as the Sooners football coach after the firing of John Blake. Stoops led Oklahoma to a national championship in just his second season, won 10 Big 12 titles and went 191-48 during his 19-year run at the school. Under Stoops and his successor, Lincoln Riley, the Sooners have had four Heisman Trophy winners since 2003. In men's basketball, he hired Lon Kruger, who guided the Sooners to the 2016 Final Four. Two Oklahoma men's basketball players, Blake Griffin in 2009 and Buddy Hield in 2016, won national player of the year honors during Castiglione's time at the school. Oklahoma has also been a national powerhouse in softball and women's gymnastics with each program winning seven national titles since 2013. More recently, Oklahoma moved conferences, leaving its longtime home, the Big 12, for the SEC ahead of the 2024-25 academic year. The Sooners' broader athletic success earned Castiglione athletic director of the year honors from the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) in 2000 and 2018.
USA Today
07-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione planning to retire per reports
Oklahoma Sooners athletic director Joe Castiglione will be retiring at the end of the 2025-2026 academic year, according to a report from ESPN college football's Pete Thamel. Castiglione, who served as the Sooners athletic director since 1998, helped return the Oklahoma Sooners to prominence on the gridiron with the hiring of Bob Stoops. According to Thamel, Castiglione will remain in his role for the next year to ensure the University of Oklahoma has a smooth transition as it searches for and hires his replacement. He'll then step into an emeritus role with the university. One of the longest-tenured athletic directors in the country, Castiglione oversaw an athletic department that won 26 national titles, including a football national championship and eight softball national championships. Castiglione was key in ushering the Oklahoma Sooners into the new era of collegiate athletics and guiding their transition into the SEC. Now, the Sooners begin preparing for life after the man affectionately referred to as "Joe C." The University of Oklahoma will hold a press conference on Tuesday, July 8 to make an official announcement. Joe Castiglione, OU president Joseph Harroz, and OU Board of Regents chair Anita Holloway will be in attendance. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
