Big 12 Coaches

[dem]

I responded to a question at the Full Court Press message board (fullcourt.com), and I thought the answer might be of interest here.

How often do strong conferences like the Big 12, SEC, Big 10 dip down to select coaches from less strong conferences?

Previous coaching assignments of current Big 12 head coaches:

Nebraska: Connie Yori, Creighton Head Coach (Missouri Valley)
Baylor: Kim Mulkey-Robertson, Louisiana Tech Assistant Coach (Sun Belt Conference, when hired)
Iowa State: Bill Fennelly, Toledo Head Coach (Mid-American)
Kansas State: Deb Patterson, Vanderbilt Assistant Coach (SEC)
Missouri: Cindy Stein, Emporia State Head Coach (Division II)
Oklahoma: Sherri Coale, Norman High School Head Coach
Oklahoma State: Julie Goodenough, Hardin-Simmons Head Coach (Division III)
Texas A&M: Peggie Gillom, Houston Comets Assistant Coach (WNBA), previously, Mississippi Assistant Coach (SEC)

The other four coaches have all been with their current teams for over 15 years:
Colorado: Ceal Barry (19 years)
Texas Tech: Marsha Sharp (20 years)
Texas: Jody Conradt (26 years)
Kansas: Marian Washington (28 years)


[This message has been edited by dem (edited 11-07-2002).]

[cctigerfan]

I think this goes to show just how many quality basketball coaches there are at the lower ranks. It would be interesting to know how many coaches in D1 history have been hired directly from high school (and had the success that Coale has had at Oklahoma)?

[DblT81]

Marsha Sharp was an assistant coach at Tech for one year prior to being promoted to head coach. Prior to that she was a high school coach.

[vickie1ok]

Great post, Dem. It shows the Big 12 has built itself on schools hiring the best coaches they interviewed. I know that was the case in Sherri Coale. The committee was just blown away by her. Again, I think this is a great thing about women's hoops in general, and the Big 12 specifically. I don't know if those of us in the Big 12 are just lucky or brilliant, but I'm damn glad we are some of both.