Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione will retire from his full-time role during the upcoming school year, bringing an end to the longest-tenured run for a current AD in major college sports, sources told ESPN.
Upon the hiring of his successor, according to sources, Castiglione will stay on as athletic director emeritus.
Castiglione is entering his 28th year at Oklahoma, a span that has seen 26 national titles, 117 league titles and the Sooners’ move from the Big 12 to the SEC. The timing of the announcement prior to this season, sources said, will give Oklahoma officials adequate runway to hire a replacement during the upcoming school year. The timing of the move will allow OU to make a hire in the upcoming months and transition with Castiglione on campus.
Castiglione, 67, initiated the conversation about his retirement with school officials nearly a month ago, per sources, and they landed on this plan together.
