NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Uploaded:

Oklahoma Sooners can officially mark one name with ties to the university off the list as a candidate for the AD job

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Justin Churchill | Last updated Jul 13, 2025 7:05 PM ET

The news of Oklahoma Sooners Athletic Director Joe Castiglione retiring after the 2-25 football season surprised everyone. Sure, there was always a thought that it could be coming soon, because of how long he's been at it, but no one thought that time would be now.

Castiglione is responsible for so many great things that have happened within the school's athletic program, whether it be hiring Bob Stoops, who helped get the football program back to greatness, or whether it be the decisions he made to put the softball program in a position where they can call themselves a dynasty.

There are also the financial implications to it all, where Castiglione turned a school that owed money into one that's worth so much it's being called an "enterprise."

Joe C has done a lot, but he feels it's time to move on in his life. I'm not 100% sure what the job entails, everything you have to do, but I do know that he's constantly busy. Maybe he would love some family time now. But, because he is retiring, it doesn't mean the Sooners stop what they're doing. They still need an Athletic Director as a replacement.

We have heard so many names thrown around, but now we can already mark one name off that we know won't be the next AD.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Oklahoma Football (@ou_football)

"Oh no, no, no, no," legendary coach Bob Stoops said at Joe Castiglione's press conference. "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."

Been a long day, but I did ask @CoachBobStoops if he would be interested in taking over the AD job when @soonerad is done. "Oh no, no, no, no. 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."
— Carey Murdock (@CareyAMurdock) July 8, 2025

The Sooners have been linked to a few different people out there, specifically guys like Zac Selmon and others who were working under Joe C before getting their current jobs. Now, there is still a year until this all happens, so they have plenty of time.

But Stoops' name can definitely be crossed off.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: