Dear Colleagues,
At a defining moment for college athletics and for the University of Oklahoma, I am delighted to formally welcome Roger Denny as our next Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Programs and Director of Athletics, pending final approval by the OU Board of Regents. Roger will join OU on February 15, and we are thrilled to welcome him and his family to Sooner Nation.
Later this morning, we will officially welcome Roger during a special event that will be livestreamed beginning at 11:30 a.m. I hope you’ll join us online to share in this meaningful moment for our university. Watch the livestream.
This is a pivotal appointment at a time of profound change across college athletics. The landscape is evolving rapidly, bringing new complexity but also tremendous opportunity. The university has a long history of leading through massive change, and our forward-thinking has paved the way for intercollegiate athletics for generations. As OU continues to lead in this new era, Roger’s unique combination of legal expertise, athletics leadership experience at the University of Illinois, and strategic vision positions him exceptionally well to build on OU’s proud tradition of championship excellence.
As Roger begins this new chapter, I want to first express my deep appreciation to Joe Castiglione, whose extraordinary leadership over nearly three decades has positioned OU Athletics for enduring success. Joe has led with integrity, humility, and an unwavering commitment to our student-athletes and to this university. The culture he built – and the standards he set – provide a powerful foundation for what comes next.
Roger joins OU at a moment that demands both experience and creativity. Institutions that lead in today’s athletics environment will be those that combine strong values with strategic leadership, operational discipline, and the fortitude to act boldly. In short, Roger is the prototype of the modern-era athletics executive – a leader whose background equips OU to unlock what every major athletics program is striving to achieve: building a sustainable model to compete at the highest level while expanding opportunity for student-athletes.
Before entering athletics administration, Roger spent nearly 15 years as a partner at SpencerFane LLP in St. Louis, leading a legal practice that served clients across professional and collegiate sports. His work spanned intellectual property and licensing, media rights, contracts, labor and collective bargaining, capital markets, and complex transactions. In an era defined by NIL, evolving employment models, and heightened legal and regulatory scrutiny, this depth of experience will be a significant asset to our student-athletes and our institution as a whole.
Most recently, as Deputy Director of Athletics at the University of Illinois, Roger brought that same rigor and intensity to day-to-day operations, overseeing business strategy, leading coaching searches, advancing NIL efforts, and contributing to competitive success across multiple programs. He brings an almost unmatched understanding of the college athletics ecosystem and the complex business realities that now shape it.
As Roger steps into this role, he will do so alongside a leadership structure intentionally designed to provide continuity and momentum during this period of change. I am grateful to Randall Stephenson, who chaired the search committee and continues to serve as Chair of Athletics and Special Advisor to the OU President and Director of Athletics, for his leadership and partnership throughout this process.
Please join me in welcoming Roger and his family to the University of Oklahoma. I am confident that, together, we will harness the very best of Sooner Magic to elevate our university to new heights.
Live On, University,
Joseph Harroz, Jr.
President
