OU football coach Brent Venables says wife Julie’s cancer has returned

On November 24, 2024By Littum

NORMAN — OU football coach Brent Venables’ wife, Julie, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer in the summer of 2023, had surgery to remove a tumor last week, Venables announced during his weekly coaches show Monday night.

Venables said Julie’s cancer returned in May and she has been traveling back and forth between Norman and New York for the past several months. He added that she is doing “fantastic” right now.

Julie told The Oklahoman in March that she had “zero cancer” and was doing well.

“Her spirit and strength is nothing short of amazing,” Venables said. “We have a great team and great faith. It’s in God’s hands, a big part of the game was that she just wanted to fight and keep swinging and that’s what she’s doing.”

Julie received the first diagnosis in June 2023 and was operated on in August and November.

The Before held a Breast Cancer Awareness game last season when they hosted UCF with two pink ribbons painted in each end zone.

Brent and Julie Venables have been married since 1997. They have four children.

Colton Sulley covers OU athletics for The Oklahoman. Got a story idea for Colton? He can be found at [email protected] or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support the work of Colton and other Oklahoma journalists by purchasing one digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com or by using the link at the top of this page.