Guess who was a candidate in 1990?
Newspaper archives are one of the funnest rides you can take. I digging around through old stories Friday morning, trying to figure out how soon Eddie Sutton’s name popped up in the search after Leonard Hamilton resigned to go to Miami. The answer was very soon.
But that’s not the most interesting thing I found.
Let me explain. It became apparent that Sutton was the No. 1 candidate back in 1990, and years later Jack Hartman, the Kansas State coaching legend and Henry Iba disciple, told me he and some other ex-OSU players had to convince then-AD Myron Roderick that Sutton was the right choice. They were right, of course.
But on the eve of Sutton’s hiring, another candidate emerged, at least in the media. A 27-year-old OSU assistant. Bill Self.
The Oklahoman’s Mike Baldwin reported back in April 1990 that Self was receiving serious consideration. For the record, others joining Sutton as candidates were OU assistant Jim Kerwin, Illinois State coach Bob Bender, Arkansas assistant Scott Eckard and Arkansas-Little Rock coach Mike Newell, who in the middle of the OSU search took the Lamar job.
Self in 1990 was not so far removed from his OSU playing days under Paul Hansen. He was the Oklahoma high school Player of the Year in 1981, then played at OSU from 1981-85. Self was a graduate assistant under Larry Brown at Kansas for one year, then coached four years on Hamilton’s OSU staff.
In the same way that a young Mike Gundy had support for the OSU football job in 2000 (Les Miles was hired instead), some in power at OSU saw a spark in Self.
“I don’t know what my chances are, but I feel I’m ready,” Self told Baldwin back in 1990. “I think I’m a very capable recruiter and was taught by one of the very best in recruiting (Hamilton). It’s a delicate business. As far as Xs and Os go I was under one of the best in Larry Brown.
“My coaching style would be exciting to fans. I feel the game of the ’90s is up-tempo, pressure basketball, but my teams would be sound, well-drilled fundamentally. Another key factor is motivation.”
These days, Self doesn’t have to politic for jobs or make a case that he would know what he’s doing. These days, Self has to fight off rumors about his interest in jobs.
In 1990, only three Division I head coaches were in their 20s: Niagara’s Jack Armstrong (27), St. Francis’ (N.Y.) Rich Zvosec (29) and Wagner’s Tim Capstraw (29).
Self certainly fought for the OSU in 1990. He had his ducks lined up. “Myron Roderick was 21 when he got the wrestling job at OSU, Bobby Knight was 24 when he got the job at Army and Rick Pitino was 25 at Boston University,” Self said. “I’m very young, but I’ve gained experience at a young age.
“The situation I’m in, me being a former OSU player and me being a coach here the past four years, is why I’m being considered. I know there are numerous qualified applicants. I’m sure everyone will rally around whoever is named.”
Well, that certainly came to pass. Sutton was named coach and kept Self on staff; some said that was one of the conditions of the job, that whoever was hired had to retain Self. Self turned down an assistant’s position under Hamilton at Miami.
Here’s what Self said then: “I’m an Aggie and will always be an Aggie. I feel I’m qualified to do the job, and it’s something I’ve always dreamed about, being the head basketball coach at Oklahoma State. It’s a special place. Whether I ever become head coach, it will always be special to me.”
Well, aren’t those interesting words? I don’t think Self is going to be the next OSU basketball coach. In 1990, he couldn’t dream that he would one day be the Kansas coach, officing next to Allen Fieldhouse and coaching on the court where Wilt Chamberlain and Danny Manning played.
But again, very interesting words.
OSU: How enticing is the job?
There’s a feeling among some that the way Sean Sutton was treated at OSU will scare away some prospective coaches. Boone Pickens’ money and power, the short string given a favorite son, the entire uncomfortableness of it all — playing on a court named after a man (Eddie Sutton) who isn’t likely to step foot in Gallagher-Iba Arena anytime soon.
That could be right. On the other hand, who would you rather follow. A coach who moved on because he was wildly successful, or a coach who was shown the door? Look at Texas A&M, where Mark Turgeon took over for Billy Gillispie, who literally brought Texas A&M basketball to life before going to Kentucky. Turgeon ended up with a nice season, thanks to a first-round NCAA Tournament victory over BYU and taking UCLA to the wire. But it was choppy waters, with an 8-8 Big 12 record, and now with some talent moving on, Turgeon’s not in great standing with the Aggies, who still are wondering what kind of coach they got compared to the jewel who left.
The next OSU coach could be stepping into a great spot. Remember the old proverb: Don’t follow the legend; follow the guy who follows the legend. We sort of lost all that perspective in the Sutton saga; sort of grouped Eddie and Sean Sutton all into one big era, into one big coaching conglomerate, which frankly might have been the problem in the first place.
The truth is, Sean was not getting it done as the OSU coach, and the only real question is whether he deserved more time to change people’s minds. Some say yes, some say no, and both sides have valid points. But no one in Cowboyland is saying, wow, things were going great! Why’d they make a switch?
That’s the environment into which the new coach steps. It’s not rock bottom. The Cowboys haven’t been a bad basketball team; they just haven’t been a good basketball team. A new coach has some players with which to work. Come in, start winning and we’re talking toast of the town.
Most coaches are optimistic sorts. Most have big egos. (Frankly, that was one of Sean’s downfalls; he was such a decent guy, he really didn’t have much of an ego.) Most coaches believe they’re going to win, even with far less suitable situations than currently awaits at Gallagher-Iba.
Oklahoma State basketball is a good job. Right now, I would say it’s a very good job. Boone Pickens’ money makes it a great job. It will attract quality coaches, and lots of them.
Oh, for a do-over in San Antone
OSU basketball fans probably think about San Antonio quite a bit. Four years ago this week, the Cowboys went to the Final Four and lost a two-point heartbreaker to Georgia Tech, which was an inferior team but playing very well.
That was a different Final Four defeat than in 1995. In ’95, the Cowboys were nine-loss team that got hot at the end and zipped to the Final Four, where they lost a good, competitive game to eventual national champ UCLA. Those Cowboys went about as far as they reasonably could have gone.
Not so in 2004. The ’04 Cowboys were a splendid team. A powerhouse team. Lost three games, then made the Final Four playing as high of seeds as possible: 15 Eastern Washington, 7 Memphis, 3 Pitt and 1 Saint Joseph’s. Then they didn’t play well against Georgia Tech.
But something else went wrong in San Antonio. Eddie Sutton didn’t retire. Looking back, how the fortunes of the Sutton family would have been enhanced had Eddie chosen to make the Alamodome his swan song. Had Eddie decided to retire on the heels of a fabulous, Final Four season.
Two major developments that would have occurred had Eddie retired then:
1. The drunk-driving incident would not have shamed Sutton or his family. Sean would have been head coach, Eddie would have been in the background (or maybe have taken another job, like he eventually did), but either way, his OSU legacy would have been unspoiled. Maybe Eddie’s drinking would not have developed the way it did; we certainly know that continuing to coach the Cowboys did not go well.
2. Sean would have had immediate success as a head coach. With the John Lucas/Joey Graham/Ivan McFarlin team of 2004-05, the Cowboys would have been very solid and had a special season. I don’t know if they would have made the Sweet 16, as they did with Eddie coaching them, but I also don’t know that they would have lost to Arizona in that Chicago Regional semifinal, as they did with Eddie.
Give Sean a big-time year, and who knows what the future held? Maybe he builds belief that he could get the job done.
As it was, Sean never instilled true confidence in anyone, including his ardent supporters. That would have been different had his father retired after San Antonio.
Twisting in the wind
The Oklahoma State basketball saga continues to play out, and I believe there will be a quick resolution because I think the Cowgirls’ success probably delayed decisions about the Cowboys. I believe athletic director Mike Holder didn’t want to do anything to take away from OSU’s success story in the NCAA women’s tournament, and he probably was right. Yea or nay on Sean Sutton would have eclipsed news about Kurt Budke’s bunch.
But the Cowgirls now are eliminated, and this week has to produce the verdict on Sutton. I don’t know what Holder is thinking, and it’s possible he hasn’t known what to do and is just trying to decide. But it doesn’t look good for Sutton. If I’m playing amateur psychologist, I would guess that Holder wants to make a change but is reluctant to pull the trigger.
Do I believe Holder when he said he hasn’t talk to any prospective coaches or any representatives of prospective coaches? Yes. Do I believe that there has been no communication between prospective coaches or their reps and anyone from OSU or its reps? No. This is a seedy business, and the coaches make it so. They always are on the prowl for other jobs. Always ready to jump a contract for a better landing.
Coaches smelled hyde when Sutton struggled, so of course some of them expressed interest in a Stillwater address. Let me promise you, OU officials — or people who could get in contact with OU officials — heard from agents of coaches when Jeff Capel’s departure seemed possible. That’s the way the business works.
So is it up or down on Sutton? I have no idea, but if I was guessing, I would say he’s gone. A meeting yesterday, another meeting scheduled today, I guess you could read that both ways. But the signs aren’t strong for Sutton.
