University of Oklahoma women’s basketball head coach Sherri Coale, a longtime friend and supporter of FCA, will be inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame next summer—an honor recognizing her impressive coaching success and her many years of impacting young athletes.
“We couldn’t be happier for Sherri Coale and her Hall of Fame recognition,” said FCA President and CEO Les Steckel. “Sherri has certainly seen success on the court—evidenced by her many titles and honors, as well as the win-loss column beside her name. But it’s the influence she’s had on countless players that will be her legacy.”
"It’s not about the wins and losses, but about what you teach people.”
-Sherrie Coale
Coale has led Oklahoma to three Final Fours since taking over the program in 1996, and the Sooners have made the NCAA Tournament for 16 straight years under her leadership. She has racked up a 420-206 win-loss record in 19 years at OU and has been named the Big 12 Coach of the Year four times.
Added John O’Dell, State Director for Oklahoma FCA and a personal friend of Coale’s, “Congratulations to Sherri Coale to her induction into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. Sherri’s influence is powerful! Her touch of influence has impacted many lives for Christ, not only in Oklahoma but throughout the world. Congratulations not only on your induction but, more importantly, thank you for touching lives for Christ through your commitment to serve Him and all of those you influence. We love you Sherri!”
Earlier this year, Coale talked about the impact of Fellowship of Christian Athletes in the January/February issue of FCA Magazine, stating, “FCA is an energy source, a guiding light, and a gentle compass that serves young athletes as they face the equally daunting tasks of handling success and failure. Simply said, FCA keeps Jesus in the daily conversation of the lives of young people.”
Several years ago, Coale also shared her thoughts on coaching in FCA Magazine:
On the importance of pushing players to be better outside of basketball:
“If basketball were only about a season or a championship or even a career, it would be way too much time, effort and investment. It has to be about something more. And for us, we realize we have student-athletes for, at most, five years, so we try to get in life skills—ways to go out and make a significant difference in the world. We want to arm our players, and there is no better training round for how to live and make a difference than the field of athletics.”
On wearing a lot of hats:
“My mantra is, ‘Whatever you are doing is the most important thing while you are doing it.’ When I am coaching, I need to be coaching. When I am being a mom, I need to be a mom. When I am being WBCA president, I need to be president. You can’t try to do them all at once. You have to live in such a way as to support all those roles, but you have to focus on the thing you are doing while you are there.”
On defining success:
“It’s making a difference in people’s lives. If you coach for 25 years and never win a championship but you influence three people for Christ, that is success. It’s not about the wins and losses, but about what you teach people.”
On FCA:
“When I was a high school teacher and coach, I saw the difference FCA can make in a kid’s life. I watched students who didn’t even know what the Bible was really grow and develop a personal relationship with Christ. That was when I really got hooked on FCA.”
Coale also provided insight for a four-part video Bible study in partnership with FCA.
Coale will be joined by former Missouri State guard Jackie Stiles, Olympic gold medalist Natalie Williams, longtime official June Courteau, Texas girls high school coach Joe Lombard and the late AAU girls basketball official Bill Tipps, according to the Associated Press. In addition, the 1996 U.S. women’s basketball Olympic team will receive the Hall’s trailblazer award. The group will be inducted next June at the Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tenn.
Photos courtesy of OU Athletics