Two Sooner assistants get second raises of offseason, and one becomes OU's first $1 million non-coordinator
In January, Brent Venables handed raises to his returning staff. In March, he handed out a couple more.
Associate head coach/co-defensive coordinator/run game coordinator/defensive tackles coach Todd Bates and offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh received their second raises of the offseason.
Bedenbaugh had a year extended to his deal. After earning $820,000 in 2023 with a raise to $870,000, he will now earn $1.05 million in 2024, $1.2 million in '25, and $1.25 million in '26. (All data via the Tulsa World's Eric Bailey.) The longest tenured member of the staff, Bedenbaugh has coached OU's offensive lines since 2013, the Bob Stoops era. He is the first non-coordinator in Sooner history to top the $1 million mark.
Bates, the senior assistant on staff if judged by the number of titles, was set to earn $700,000 after January's raises, but will now earn $800,000. He remains on a 3-year contract, with $50,000 retention bonuses due on Feb. 1 each of the next two years.
Finally, co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Zac Alley, the only outside hire on OU's 2024 staff, signed a 3-year deal starting at $850,000 with $50,000 retention bonuses due each Feb. 1. It's an enormous raise from the $213,800 he earned at Jacksonville State last season.
Even with the raises and Alley's contract now on the books, Oklahoma still comes out ahead financially. With offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby (set to make $2 million had he returned to Norman) and defensive coordinator Ted Roof ($1.2 million) off the books, Oklahoma will spend 2 percent less for Brent Venables's staff than it previously committed to.
| Coach | Previous salary | Current salary | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
Seth Littrell (OC/QBs) | $2 million* | $1.1 million | -$900,000 (-55%) |
Bill Bedenbaugh (OL) | $820,000 | $1.05 million | $230,000 (28%) |
Joe Jon Finley (co-OC/TEs) | $575,000 | $900,000 | $325,000 (57%) |
Zac Alley (co-DC/LBs) | $1.2 million* | $850,000 | -$350,000 (-29%) |
Todd Bates (DTs/RGC) | $665,000 | $800,000 | $135,000 (20%) |
Jay Valai (CBs/PGC) | $700,000 | $750,000 | $50,000 (7%) |
Miguel Chavis (DEs) | $600,000 | $650,000 | $50,000 (8%) |
Emmett Jones (WRs) | $550,000 | $644,000 | $94,000 (17%) |
DeMarco Murray (RBs) | $500,000 | $575,000 | $75,000 (15%) |
Brandon Hall (Safeties) | $350,000 | $500,000 | $150,000 (43%) |
Total | $7.96 million | $7.819 million | -$141,000 (2%) |
* - Salary data for former staff member.
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