I do NOT think you will get better in Norman. In women's basketball, there was nothing before Sherri, and we may have nothing after Sherri. Don't take it for granted that you can get a young firebrand in here that can recruit the top five players and take us to the Finals.
Sherri has a better reputation in women's sports than OU does. Forget about softball and gymnastics. Different recruits, different number of teams. Not all teams do these. Equestrian beats out gymnastics in Kansas State and TCU.
Sherri has shown that she can build. She did it, and she did it in a place that offered very little support for women's sports. It is more likely that she can rebuild it than you can bring in another coach who will.
Have you noticed anyone replacing Ceal Berry, Marsha Sharp, and Judy Conradt?
Wake Up, the game has passed Sherri Coale and she will never get it back. Kim Mulkey said as much years ago. Women's basketball is not the game that it was when Sherri took over at OU nor is it the game from 2010. OU is simply fundamentally not sound and that is on Sherri. You do not have 20+ turnovers nearly every game if you are fundamentally sound.
In women's basketball, there was nothing before Sherri, and we may have nothing after Sherri. This is such a myth. OU dropped the program for a couple of weeks in 1990. In 1993-1994 Burl Plunkett led the team to a 18-14 record winning the WNIT. The next year 1994-1995, the Sooners went 22-9, 11-3 in Big 8 play, and the NCAA second round. Sherri did not arrive until the 1996-97 season. My hat is off the Sherri Coale and her first 15 years at OU but she is mediocre now at best. As for this year, you better get ready for another 20 loss season. Sometimes, it is simply time to pass the torch.
Have you noticed anyone replacing Ceal Berry, Marsha Sharp, and Judy Conradt? I would argue that all three of these coaches knew when it was time to hang them up or that the game was changing. Ceal Barry was 50 and has been an Associate Director at Colorado, Marsha Sharp was 54 or Sherri's age, and Jody Conradt was 65 when she stepped down.
Softball vs. Women's Basketball
297 D1 schools vs. 351 D1 schools
12 scholarships vs. 15 scholarships
There is not really that big of a difference between the two sports. There is a huge difference between Sherri and Patty. Patty is in the Top 10 of all D-1 softball coaches in the history of the sport and routinely has Top 3 recruiting classes. The longer Patty has coached, the better she has gotten. We used to see Sherri show up at the softball field during the NCAA playoffs. I haven't seen her in years now.
Women's Gymnastics vs. Women's Basketball
You have a point, however, K. J. is the best coach in the business. She has also assembled the best coaching staff in the business. That victory train is not going to stop anytime soon.
Women's Volleyball vs. Women's Basketball
335 D1 Schools vs. 351 D1 Schools
12 scholarships vs. 15 scholarships
Right now, I would not put Sherri in third place on OU's list of Women's Sports coaches. Lindsey Gray-Walton is the real deal. She inherited a 6-22 team then went 17-11 and tied for 3rd in the Big 12 in her first year. This year, she is 19-8 and 3rd in the Big 12 behind #1 NCAA Seed Baylor (OU took them to 5 sets and lost 15-12 in 5th in Norman) and #2 NCAA Seed Texas (OU took them to 4 sets in Norman). They are playing Rice in the NCAA 1st round tomorrow at 4:40 streaming on ESPN+. They had 2442 at the Texas game in Norman.