Since the turn of the century, Oklahoma has consistently been one of the best college athletic programs in the country.
The man who orchestrated that powerhouse is Joe Castiglione, who announced this summer that this current school year would be his last as the Sooners’ full-time athletic director. Afterward, he plans to step into a special projects role until his tentative retirement in 2028.
Over his 26 years in charge, Castiglione has become the gold standard for athletic directors around the country. In some ways, Castiglione’s meteoric rise resembles the career arc of Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek, who arrived in Fayetteville after stints in charge at Coastal Carolina and Houston.