Boyd Street May 2021

The University of Oklahoma basketball programs are in the midst of a change of leadership. Lon Kruger and Sherri Coale, head coaches for the men’s and women’s teams, respectively, both announced that the 2020-2021 college basketball seasons would be their last at the helm.

After lengthy careers, both Coale and Kruger are stepping into retirement.

Over the course of 25 years leading women’s basketball at OU, Coale has accumulated more than 500 wins, 20 postseason appearances, including 19 consecutive NCAA tournaments, and is honored as a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

Kruger spent the last ten years of his 45-year coaching career at OU, earning the honor to be the first coach to take five different schools to the NCAA tournament, including a Final Four berth with OU in 2016. He was honored with the John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award in 2019. Honorees of the prestigious award are selected based on their high standard of coaching success both on and off the court.

Even with impressive careers spanning decades and coaching a multitude of players who went on to successful careers in the professional ranks, when reflecting on the end of an era, both coaches pointed to the privilege to influence student-athletes beyond the game of basketball as the aspect they will miss the most.

“Athletics is such a great training ground, not just in basketball but across the board,” Kruger said, in an interview with Toby Rowland on SportsTalk 1400. “Our goal was to help them leave the University of Oklahoma ready to be successful and effective, not just as basketball players but as contributors to a community, or as fathers or husbands, and that’s really the fun part of it.”

Coale said she recognized the powerful opportunity her role provided as a young head coach at Norman High School.

“I love teaching and mentoring young people,” she shared. “I recognized the opportunity I had in a rich community like Norman. I tried to weave our program into the fabric of our community and that turned out to be so rewarding and nourished my players. It is a magical thing when you can engage the heart, there becomes a real investment and connection.”

The investment both coaches put in their relationships with their players has had a ripple effect within the Norman community and within OU basketball. That idea that being a Sooner is more than playing basketball begins from the moment they are introduced to the basketball program.

“Our recruiting pitch, you’re talking about people,” Kruger explained. “How you want them to do well and enjoy the experience once they get here. It always goes back to people.”

As a Healdton native who went on the play basketball at Oklahoma Christian College, Coale’s bonds to the Norman community developed naturally. For Lon Kruger, whose career has taken him places such as Florida, New York and Las Vegas, his connection to Norman came from what it represented to him and his family.

“Barb and I grew up in Kansas and Norman reminded us of home… how friendly people are, how they help however they can,” he said.

Beyond their roles with University of Oklahoma’s basketball programs, both coaches have been active participants with many community programs.

The past 15 years, Sooner head coaches have participated in the annual coaches luncheon benefiting the Mary Abbott Children’s House, a non-profit organization that helps children who have experienced abuse or neglect or who have witnessed a crime or are in a drug endangered situation. The annual event gets fans excited about the upcoming season and brings awareness and support for the programs and services the organization provides.

“Mary Abbott Children’s House is immensely grateful for the impact Coach Coale and Coach Kruger have had on our agency,” Andree’ Danley said, Abbott House’s executive director. “Coach Coale has participated in our annual Coaches’ Luncheon since its inception 15 years ago, and quickly involved Coach Kruger 10 years ago when he arrived at OU.

“As highly respected and influential members in our community, they have shared Abbott House’s message far and wide. They have invested in not only the Abbott House and our mission, but the lives of every child who has walked through our doors.”

Barb Kruger also served on the board of directors for the Abbott House and Coach Kruger has been actively involved in the American Cancer Society’s Coaches vs. Cancer initiative that promotes cancer awareness and healthy living. He received the 2012 Coaches vs. Cancer Champion Award for his efforts with the Coaches vs. Cancer Las Vegas Golf Classic

Coale and her teams have been involved in a variety of community programs from volunteering with Meals on Wheels and Habitat for Humanity, participating in the Sooner Big Sis program with Norman elementary schools as well as helping with Special Olympics and Race for the Cure to name a few.

Coach Coale has been an advocate for the Stephenson Cancer Center and the Nicole Jarvis Parkinson’s Research Foundation, two activities she plans to continue into her retirement.

“I hope to stay very involved in things like the cancer center, the Parkinson Gala, Mary Abbott house,” she said.

She also plans to spend time with her family and take time to enjoy some of her other passions.