Oklahoma’s athletic director Joe Castiglione is set to transition into retirement during the upcoming school year, marking the conclusion of an unparalleled tenure in major college sports. Sources reveal that he will step down from his full-time role but will remain on board as athletic director emeritus, a position that will enable him to focus on special projects at the university while staying local.
Entering his 28th year at Oklahoma, Castiglione has seen an impressive haul during his leadership—26 national championships, 117 league titles, and the significant shift of the Sooners from the Big 12 to the SEC. This retirement announcement, coming ahead of the season, has been strategically timed to facilitate the search for his successor, providing the university officials ample opportunity to find a fitting replacement during the academic year and ensuring a smooth transition with Castiglione still on campus.
At 67 years old, Castiglione initiated discussions about his retirement about a month ago, and it appears that both he and the university collaboratively agreed on this roadmap for his exit. Over nearly three decades, he has established himself as one of the most esteemed leaders in the industry. His accolades include being named athletic director of the year by the Sports Business Journal in 2009 and sharing the honor in 2018, alongside receiving the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics award for the top athletic director in both 2000 and 2018.
One statistic highlights his lasting impact on college athletics: 32 of his colleagues from both Oklahoma and Missouri have ascended to positions of athletic director or commissioner. Before his long stay in Norman, Castiglione spent five seasons as the athletic director at Missouri. His most notable hire at Oklahoma—bringing in Bob Stoops as head football coach before the 1999 season—kicked off an era of dominance, which included a national championship in 2000 and a remarkable 10 Big 12 titles. This move sparked a streak of 26 consecutive bowl games for the Sooners.
During Castiglione’s administration, Oklahoma has enjoyed success beyond just football. The men’s basketball team reached the Final Four twice, once in 2002 under Kelvin Sampson and again in 2016 with Lon Kruger. The women’s team has also made waves with three Final Four appearances. Meanwhile, Oklahoma’s softball program has emerged as a national powerhouse, clinching eight national titles under the guidance of coach Patty Gasso since 2000.
Castiglione has played a vital role in numerous committees over his career, including positions on the College Football Playoff committee and the men’s and baseball selection committees. Notably, he is the only athletic director to have served on all three, solidifying his reputation as a powerful and respected voice in the industry.
As Castiglione prepares to step away, he does so at a time when Oklahoma’s football program has faced its own challenges, finishing with losing records in two of the past three seasons under fourth-year coach Brent Venables. Meanwhile, the men’s basketball program recently broke a three-year NCAA tournament drought by qualifying for the 2025 tournament in Porter Moser’s fourth season. The legacy left by Castiglione is one of commitment, excellence, and a profound influence on the landscape of college sports.
