What’s happening, Oklahoma? It is Tuesday, July 8, and this is a Joe Castiglione appreciation post.

The 67-year-old athletic director for the University of Oklahoma announced his intention on Monday to retire as AD sometime in the upcoming year. As soon as his replacement is named, he’ll move to athletic director emeritus.

Joe C. as he is affectionately called is the greatest AD in OU history, and it’s not close. Despite our collective frustration with football the past 2-3 seasons, the truth is, everything in athletics is better because of his leadership.

Softball. It rose under Joe C.

Women’s basketball. That program was dormant when he arrived. Sherri Coale soon had the Sooners playing for a natty.

Men’s basketball went to two Final Fours in his era, and baseball went to two College World Series.

All the gymnastics titles.

Golf title in 2017, and runner-up in 2021.

And then there was football.

With Joe C. came Bob Stoops, easily the most important hire he ever made with Patty Gasso being the best hire. Everything on a college campus, especially in the SEC, revolves around the gridiron.

Patty is likely the greatest college softball coach of all time.

(CORRECTION: Joe C. did not actually hire Gasso. Marita Hynes should get that credit. Gasso was hired in 1994.)

Oklahoma football is in a state of flux these days with the SEC and NIL challenges. But Joe C. has pulled all the proper levers here, too, hiring former AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson and Jim Nagy to run the program.

Who will replace him? Many folks are saying Zac Selmon, current Mississippi State AD and of course heir to the most famous last name in Oklahoma football.

However, I say watch out for Kirby Hocutt. Played ball with Brent Venables back at Kansas State. Got his master’s at OU while he worked for Joe C. between 1999-2005. Hocutt has been at Texas Tech since 2011, and he’s worked wonders for Red Raider Nation in his time there.

Boomer!

Ad: Would you like to get your business noticed in a future edition of the Oklahoma Memo?

• 65% open rate, with 290+ engaged subscribers and growing fast.

• 3,300+ TikTok followers, plus new audiences on Instagram & YouTube — all hungry for local stories.

📰 Basic Sponsor Package

✅ 1 ad placement in every Oklahoma Memo newsletter for 1 month
✅ Placement near the top or middle with publication endorsement
✅ Metrics report at the end (opens, clicks)

🎯 Sponsored Story Package

✅ Your business featured as a custom story in Oklahoma Memo
✅ Delivered to inboxes in one of our daily editions
✅ Also shared on TikTok, Instagram & YouTube for extra reach

This is a great way to tell your story, highlight what makes you unique, and connect with thousands of Oklahomans who care about local.

If you’re ready to make an investment in your business with an ad in ‘Oklahoma Memo’ — message me: [email protected]

Weather Update 🌩️

Severe weather Tuesday afternoon is a possibility with hail, damaging winds and heavy rain all possibilities.

🌡️ Tuesday's high in OKC 92°
🌡️ Tuesday’s high in Tulsa 91°

Walters announces policy requiring Oklahoma districts to pay for all students’ school meals

By Beth Wallis, StateImpact Oklahoma
Click to read the story.
Donate to KGOU.

State Superintendent Ryan Walters announced a mandate Monday for districts to immediately submit new budgets to pay for all students’ school meals.

Walters relies on a state statute that requires the state and districts to “provide a financial plan that will ensure full educational opportunities for every child in Oklahoma.” Guidance on the state department’s website argues that a full education includes no-cost school meals.

According to the guidance, a new budget system will “verify that districts are prioritizing student nutrition over high administrative and other costs [to ensure] that all Oklahoma students have access to free, healthy meals throughout the school day.”

Districts will be required to “immediately” submit proposed budgets with estimated costs to provide free meals to all students. OSDE will then review each budget.

If a district cannot cover the cost, the department will “suggest cost-cutting measures” and require a re-submitted budget. If the district does not comply, OSDE may withhold state funds or accreditation, or revoke certificates.

According to the guidance, OSDE will also “implement a rule” requiring all meals or snacks served in schools to be free of seed oils, artificial food dyes, ultra-processed foods and “pesticide-laden foods.”

The State Board of Education must approve an emergency rule before it can go to the governor’s desk.

Click to finish the story.

The Oklahoma Rundown 📰

A hand-curated list of the best journalism from across the state:

• ‘Always laughing’: OK family honors memory of 6-year-old murdered by her own father (KFOR)

• New revelations behind notorious 2003 Tulsa kidnapping, torture convict (2 News Oklahoma)

• Police search for man accused of attacking Lowe's employee with an axe in SW OKC (KOCO)

• Choctaw Nation citizen missing since 2022 found safe, reunited with family (2 News Oklahoma)

• Oklahoma Indigenous leaders criticize Ann Coulter social media post advocating for genocide (KOSU)

• Stacy Lee Drake pleads not guilty to three Oklahoma murders (KFOR)

• Second arrest made in Tulsa Juneteenth shooting (Black Wall Street Times)

• An Oklahoma father planned to get married but now faces deportation (The Frontier)

• Oklahoma sends aid to Texas to help with devastating flooding (Oklahoma Voice)

• Cell, no! After 2 years of debate, schools get months to ban phones (Oklahoma Watch)

• Logan County man arrested after barricade and multiple incidents across two counties (Guthrie News Page)

• Choctaw Freedmen call for federal protection ahead of tribal vote (Black Wall Street Times)

• Update: Police identify woman fatally shot after officers respond to domestic call (Tulsa World)

• Tulsa couple competes for $20,000 in national love story contest (News On 6)

• Congress committee prepares for July 10 hearing on allegations against Osage Nation AG (Osage News)

• Citizens successfully petition to impanel Kingfisher County grand jury on 2020 shooting (NonDoc)

• Lawsuit filed against Wagoner County Board of Commissioners in solar farm denial (Tulsa World)

• First look at new Osage Nation Health Clinic in Pawhuska (News On 6)

• OSU shut out of Big 12 preseason honors (The O’Colly)

• OKC Thunder sign Ajay Mitchell to multi-year Contract (News 9)

• News 9's Lacey Swope explains how Central Texas floodwaters turned deadly so fast (News 9)

• Oklahoma County jail doesn't face funding shortfall until May 2026, budget team says (KOCO)

• Commissioners approve TIF for battery storage system (Durant Democrat)

• Motorcyclist dies in Pittsburg County crash (KXII)

• 'It's good to be back in the building' - Waurika congregation celebrates church purchase (The Oklahoman)

• Tulsa history museum rebrands, unveils 'Cabinet of Curiosities' (Public Radio Tulsa)

• Lawmakers call for probe of Oklahoma incubator program amid data collection concerns (Oklahoma Voice)

🗣️ Our Mission, Social Media & Feedback

The ‘Oklahoma Memo’ mission is simple: Reignite the daily news habit by connecting Oklahomans and those who love Oklahoma to quality sources of news and vetted information.

Frictionless. Painless. Stress-free.

Social Media

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

We also have a YouTube channel! It’s new. Pardon our dust.

Contact Us

Message Oklahoma Memo at [email protected].

Have a great Monday, and a great week ahead.