Roger Denny named Oklahoma's new athletic director

Denny's unconventional path from corporate lawyer to college sports administrator made him the perfect fit for the job.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 5:55pm

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Roger Denny, a 43-year-old former corporate attorney, has been named the 12th athletic director at the University of Oklahoma. Denny spent 15 years practicing law before transitioning into college sports administration, including a stint as deputy athletic director at the University of Illinois. Oklahoma officials say Denny's unique background made him an ideal candidate to lead one of the nation's elite athletic programs.

Why it matters

Oklahoma's athletic department is considered one of the best in the country, having won 26 national championships under the previous athletic director Joe Castiglione. Denny's appointment represents a shift in the traditional path to becoming an athletic director, as he brings a diverse set of professional experiences outside of college sports.

The details

Denny's mother predicted back in 2005 that her son would one day become an athletic director, even telling the then-North Carolina athletic director that her son would have his job. While Denny's path didn't unfold exactly as his mother envisioned, he did eventually transition from a successful corporate law career into college sports administration, serving as deputy athletic director at Illinois before being named Oklahoma's new AD.

  • In 2005, Denny's mother told the North Carolina athletic director that her son would one day have his job.
  • Denny was announced as Oklahoma's 12th athletic director on January 28, 2026.

The players

Roger Denny

The 43-year-old new athletic director at the University of Oklahoma, who previously had a 15-year career as a corporate attorney before transitioning into college sports administration.

Debi Denny

Roger Denny's mother, who predicted in 2005 that her son would one day become an athletic director.

Dick Baddour

The former athletic director at the University of North Carolina, who Debi Denny told in 2005 that her son would one day have his job.

Joseph Harroz Jr.

The president of the University of Oklahoma, who described the Sooners' athletic program as a "dynasty" that Denny will be tasked with maintaining.

Randall Stephenson

A special advisor to the University of Oklahoma who said Denny's unconventional path made him the perfect fit for the athletic director role.

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What they’re saying

“My mom, God bless her, told Dick Baddour in that moment that I was going to have his job some day.”

— Roger Denny

“As you step back and look at that, you see this is a very different kind of individual that we're looking for to come in and fill this role. And so therefore, we said we probably need to take a very different approach on how we go about finding this individual.”

— Randall Stephenson, Special advisor, University of Oklahoma

“When you hear the university president use the word dynasty, that's when you get really excited, and that's what we're here for.”

— Roger Denny

What’s next

Denny will work closely with Oklahoma president Joseph Harroz Jr. to maintain the Sooners' status as one of the elite athletic programs in the country.

The takeaway

Denny's unconventional path from corporate lawyer to college sports administrator highlights how the traditional mold for athletic director candidates is evolving. His diverse professional experience and unique skill set make him well-equipped to lead Oklahoma's storied athletic department into the future.