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By Ryan Aber
Staff writer raber@oklahoman.com
NORMAN — Sherri Coale sat in her office this week and looked into the practice gym just outside her window.
The Oklahoma women’s basketball coach looked at the three Final Four banners hanging on the wall and pointed their way.
“My energy level to get this thing right, where it’s supposed to be — and I don’t mean competing in the top half of the league. I mean those three banners that are hanging in the gym right there, to get some more of those — it’s off the charts.
“We’ve got to get this thing right.”
Coale’s Sooners went 8-22 this season, which was the most losses for the program since 1996-97, Coale’s first season.
The Sooners had just two upperclassmen on their roster — thanks to both members of its 2016 signing class transferring within days of each other
The Sooners had just two upperclassmen on their roster — thanks to both members of its 2016 signing class transferring within days of each other after their freshman season. Then one of the two members of the previous signing class, Morgan Rich, was forced to give up the game due to injuries.
Coale decided against bringing in any transfers that would have injected experience to a roster that was stacked with freshmen and sophomores.
“The reason that the road was rough is my fault,” Coale said. “They should’ve had experienced people on the floor with them so that they weren’t so exposed. Everything they did was so exposed because there was no experience returning, no cover under which they could hide.
“Tough in the immediacy, a great blessing down the road.”
Coale has previously said she was cautious about adding transfers because of the quick nature of the process that left little time to truly determine if a player was a good fit.
But Coale now says she will explore adding experience to what once again will be a young roster next season.
“I made choices not to go out and get a quick, late fix,” Coale said. “It’s all about seeking the necessary and needed parts.”
The balance, Coale said, was not to bring in a junior college player or a transfer who would limit her ability to add to the roster beyond 2020. As currently constructed, the Sooners won’t lose any seniors from next year’s team.
That would point to Coale targeting graduate transfers to help solve what was the biggest problem on this year’s roster — size inside.
“We need some length to add to this team that we have, but we’re not going to sacrifice the long haul for the immediate,” Coale said. “There’s a balance there and that’s the riddle we have to solve.”
Coale also has two openings to fill on her staff after longtime assistants Pam DeCosta and Chad Thrailkill left the program after the season.
Coale is hoping to solidify those hires in the next two weeks as the NCAA Tournament wraps up.
One potential candidate is Mississippi State assistant Dionnah Jackson-Durrett, who starred for Coale in Norman.
But Coale also said it was important to find outside voices.
“The opportunity to get a staff in the room and have all those varied perspectives and grapple with that and wring it until you get down to something you’re all convicted on and walking out of the door together, that sounds incredible to me,” Coale said. “I’m so excited about the potential of doing that. I think there’s a balance there with it.”
“The opportunity to get a staff in the room and have all those varied perspectives and grapple with that and wring it until you get down to something you’re all convicted on and walking out of the door together, that sounds incredible to me. I’m so excited about the potential of doing that. I think there’s a balance there with it.”
Sherri Coale, Oklahoma coach
Staff writer raber@oklahoman.com
NORMAN — Sherri Coale sat in her office this week and looked into the practice gym just outside her window.
The Oklahoma women’s basketball coach looked at the three Final Four banners hanging on the wall and pointed their way.
“My energy level to get this thing right, where it’s supposed to be — and I don’t mean competing in the top half of the league. I mean those three banners that are hanging in the gym right there, to get some more of those — it’s off the charts.
“We’ve got to get this thing right.”
Coale’s Sooners went 8-22 this season, which was the most losses for the program since 1996-97, Coale’s first season.
The Sooners had just two upperclassmen on their roster — thanks to both members of its 2016 signing class transferring within days of each other
The Sooners had just two upperclassmen on their roster — thanks to both members of its 2016 signing class transferring within days of each other after their freshman season. Then one of the two members of the previous signing class, Morgan Rich, was forced to give up the game due to injuries.
Coale decided against bringing in any transfers that would have injected experience to a roster that was stacked with freshmen and sophomores.
“The reason that the road was rough is my fault,” Coale said. “They should’ve had experienced people on the floor with them so that they weren’t so exposed. Everything they did was so exposed because there was no experience returning, no cover under which they could hide.
“Tough in the immediacy, a great blessing down the road.”
Coale has previously said she was cautious about adding transfers because of the quick nature of the process that left little time to truly determine if a player was a good fit.
But Coale now says she will explore adding experience to what once again will be a young roster next season.
“I made choices not to go out and get a quick, late fix,” Coale said. “It’s all about seeking the necessary and needed parts.”
The balance, Coale said, was not to bring in a junior college player or a transfer who would limit her ability to add to the roster beyond 2020. As currently constructed, the Sooners won’t lose any seniors from next year’s team.
That would point to Coale targeting graduate transfers to help solve what was the biggest problem on this year’s roster — size inside.
“We need some length to add to this team that we have, but we’re not going to sacrifice the long haul for the immediate,” Coale said. “There’s a balance there and that’s the riddle we have to solve.”
Coale also has two openings to fill on her staff after longtime assistants Pam DeCosta and Chad Thrailkill left the program after the season.
Coale is hoping to solidify those hires in the next two weeks as the NCAA Tournament wraps up.
One potential candidate is Mississippi State assistant Dionnah Jackson-Durrett, who starred for Coale in Norman.
But Coale also said it was important to find outside voices.
“The opportunity to get a staff in the room and have all those varied perspectives and grapple with that and wring it until you get down to something you’re all convicted on and walking out of the door together, that sounds incredible to me,” Coale said. “I’m so excited about the potential of doing that. I think there’s a balance there with it.”
“The opportunity to get a staff in the room and have all those varied perspectives and grapple with that and wring it until you get down to something you’re all convicted on and walking out of the door together, that sounds incredible to me. I’m so excited about the potential of doing that. I think there’s a balance there with it.”
Sherri Coale, Oklahoma coach
