Oklahoma Coach Brent Venables Updates Wife's Cancer Diagnosis

Venables said wife Julie had surgery Friday and is mending well.

NORMAN — Oklahoma football coach Brent Venables on Tuesday confirmed some bad news that his family has recently endured.

Venables' wife Julie has cancer. Venables made the revelation during his OU Media Day press conference at the Memorial Stadium club. 

“Julie, we got a diagnosis on June 16," Venables said. "It was a knock you off your feet (diagnosis), one that takes me back to talking to my mother in January 2005 and having a Stage 4 conversation. It’s one of those where there’s no blueprint for you to handle that. Our real sanctuary and our true shelter is our faith and the power of prayer. We’ve gotten so much support. I appreciate everybody here that has reached out. It’s been nothing short of amazing. The group of people that have helped. Whether it’s the doctors or administration people, the people I work with, our staff, our players, our player’s parents and certainly so many friends. It’s been great.

He said his wife had what was called successful surgery Friday morning and is healing well. 

“We’re hopeful that we got everything to where we can avoid further treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy," Venables said. "We’ll find that out in the next several days. But we think it’s not in the lymph nodes so that’s a great thing in the cancer world. So right now it was contained and now we’re trying to help strengthen her and get her back on her feet. She’s tough. As I said, she’s a honey badger. She’s got a medical background as a former nurse. So she already knows the answer to the questions. So get it right doc. So she’s amazing.”