Oklahoma Reloads Staff with Morgan, McCullough

Venables acts quickly to replace key coaching departures to NFL teams

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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After losing cornerbacks coach Jay Valai to the Buffalo Bills and running backs coach DeMarco Murray to the Kansas City Chiefs, Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables moved swiftly to fill those vacancies, hiring Jamar Morgan as the new cornerbacks coach and Marlon McCullough as the new running backs coach.

Why it matters

Maintaining coaching continuity is crucial for a successful college football program, especially one with high expectations like Oklahoma. Venables had to act fast to replace two key position coaches who left for NFL opportunities, ensuring the Sooners' defense and running game remain strong.

The details

Jamar Morgan comes to Oklahoma after serving as the cornerbacks coach at Tulsa the past two seasons. Marlon McCullough was the running backs coach at North Texas the last three years. Both bring valuable experience developing defensive backs and running backs at the college level.

  • On March 1, Oklahoma announced the departures of cornerbacks coach Jay Valai and running backs coach DeMarco Murray.
  • On March 3, Brent Venables announced the hiring of Jamar Morgan as the new cornerbacks coach.
  • On March 4, Brent Venables announced the hiring of Marlon McCullough as the new running backs coach.

The players

Brent Venables

The head football coach at the University of Oklahoma, known for building strong defenses.

Jamar Morgan

The new cornerbacks coach at the University of Oklahoma, previously held the same position at the University of Tulsa.

Marlon McCullough

The new running backs coach at the University of Oklahoma, previously held the same position at the University of North Texas.

Jay Valai

The former cornerbacks coach at the University of Oklahoma, who left to take a job with the Buffalo Bills.

DeMarco Murray

The former running backs coach at the University of Oklahoma, who left to take a job with the Kansas City Chiefs.

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What they’re saying

“We must act quickly to replace key members of our coaching staff, and I'm confident Jamar and Marlon are the right fits to continue the success of our defense and running game.”

— Brent Venables, Head Football Coach, University of Oklahoma (mcintoshdemocrat.com)

What’s next

The new coaching hires will be expected to hit the ground running, as Oklahoma begins spring practice in the coming weeks to prepare for the 2026 season.

The takeaway

Venables' ability to swiftly fill key coaching vacancies underscores the program's stability and commitment to maintaining a high level of performance on both sides of the ball, even as assistant coaches depart for opportunities at the professional level.