Jan Coach 26 by Cable Printing

Claire Shuck

Brady Hamar

Bryan Gore

SPIRIT

By Doyle Greteman

By Terrell Lester

By Doyle Greteman

Notes from the Director

• Hope you had a great Christmas and a Happy New Year!

• We have two new corporate partnerships to announce. Adrenaline Fundraising has agreed to be a partner for this year. We appreciate Adrenaline and Duncan Burke for their support of the OCA. Also, the Oklahoma Golf Coaches Association has agreed to donate funds to apply to All State golf rings. This makes four organizations that help us cover the cost of rings for six different All State events. We hope other organizations will contribute to ring costs this year.

• Please support all our corporate partners whenever you can, it is the only way to ensure that they will continue to support the OCA. There is a link to each corporate partner on our website. oklahomacoaches.org

• Lea is working on registration information. It will be emailed to Athletic Directors after Spring Break. Retired coaches will get their information in the mail.

• Clinic dates are July 26-30, 2026. The location is the Nigh University Center on the campus of the University of Central Oklahoma. The Hall of Fame induction banquet will be held July 25, 2026. The hotel block is open, and a link is on the website.

• Our ‘Coaches 101’ course is back again this year, coaches who are looking to improve themselves should plan to attend. This course will be led by Hall of Fame Coach Bill Blankenship. If you want to become a better coach, plan to attend this session and send your coaches to this one-day course. This course is for ALL sports and ALL coaches. More information will be on the website soon.

• For our General Sessions on Sunday, we have scheduled Dr. Quincy Johnson from the University of Kansas. Dr. Johnson is a sport scientist originally from Oklahoma. Dr. Johnson’s topic will be “Athlete Health, Safety, and Performance Considerations”. We will also have retired U.S. Army Colonel J. Craig Flowers, Colonel Flowers served over 25 years in the military and has written a leadership book titled, “A Colonel & A Cowboy” Colonel Flowers’ topic will be “How the Most Elite Teams in the World Behave to Win” Look for more information on our website soon.

• Currently, our membership stands at 10,019 members. This is our largest membership ever. There are still coaches who haven’t joined, if you know of anyone that still hasn’t joined, have them join online or contact us at the office.

• ASSISTANCE PLAN UPDATE: Our current enrollment is 909. Because of our efforts to recruit new Assistance Plan members, and because our number is over 900, our pay out for deaths has gone up to $9000.00 for 2026. Our goal is to reach a $10,000.00 payout, but we need to increase our membership by at least 100 new members to do so. If you are interested in the Assistance Plan, please look online for information or contact the office.

• Finally, the first digital copy of the magazine has been sent to every members’ email address. A physical copy was sent to members who checked ‘Yes’ for the magazine in their personal ‘Info Hub’ on GrowthZone. To request a physical copy, log in to GrowthZone and select ‘Yes’ to receive it. Also, please verify your home address in the ‘Info Hub’.

wayne.dozier@oklahomacoaches.org lea.mouss@oklahomacoaches.org jerry.havens@oklahomacoaches.org strippy.biggers@oklahomacoaches.org jeff.shafer@oklahomacoaches.org mike.corley@oklahomacoaches.org

In Memoriam

Jim Loomis – Weatherford

Susan Beth Ferguson – Alva

Peggy Zehr – Hinton

Blake Smiley – Madill

Marsha Ivins – Tahlequah

Janet Walling – Shawnee

Rob Fry – Ponca City

Clyde Ellis – OKC

Carl Scott – Okmulgee

John Odle – Owasso

Sharon North – Norman

Craig Pruitt – Hinton

Luther Pegues – Tulsa

Kay Strickland – Duncan

Dennis Cain – Wynnewood

Jimmy Blackburn – OKC

Teresa Dill – Cookson

ALL STATE DUE DATES:

Please note the following deadlines for All State athlete nominations. All nominations must be received in the office on or before the deadline date. The address is OCA; 8080 Crystal Park Dr., OKC, OK 73139. You may email forms to lea.mouss@oklahomacoaches.org. These deadlines should be adhered to. Please do not ask to submit your nomination late. Selection committee members are not exempt from the due date. Late nominations brought in the office on the day of the selection will be subject to a fine.

BOYS WRESTLING

GIRLS WRESTLING

SWIMMING

BOYS BASKETBALL

GIRLS BASKETBALL

TRAINERS

GOLF

GIRLS TENNIS

BOYS TENNIS

MARCH 4, 2026

MARCH 5, 2026

MARCH 25, 2026

MARCH 26, 2026

APRIL 23, 2026

MAY 14, 2026

MAY 9, 2026*

MAY 16, 2026*

*The nominations for All State Tennis are given to the selection committee at the state tournament on the deadline date.

Oklahoma Coaches Association

2025/26 Board of Directors

President ................U’V Williamson, Lawton MacArthur

Vice-President .......................Kirk Graham - Apache

Ex. Director .........................................Wayne Dozier

Region 1 ...............................Reese Brickman, Okeene

Region 2 ..............................Steve McHenry, Ponca City

Region 3 ..............................................Jon Yates, Inola

Region 4 ........................................Eric Norton, Hobart

Region 5 ....................................Chad Gilbert, Marlow

Region 6 ................................Kaleb Swboni, Tannehill

Region 7 ..........................Zac Livingston, Cascia Hall

Region 8 .......................................Brad Clark, Choctaw

REGION MEETING #1

Wednesday

February 4, 2026 7:30 p.m.

REGION 1 ... .....................................Woodward

REGION 2 ... ..........................................Bristow

REGION 3...............................................Coweta

REGION 4 ........................Lawton MacArthur*

REGION 5......................Pauls Valley Inter Sch*

REGION 6...........................................McAlester

REGION 7 ... .....Union HS*- UCA Grand Ballroom*

REGION 8 ... .......................................Choctaw*

*Region 4 meetings - Each meeting will be in the HS cafeteria. *Region 5 meetings - Pauls Valley Inter School Cafeteria - 310 W. Burt, Pauls Valley. *Region 7 meetings will be at Union High School(6636 S. Mingo Rd.) in the Union Collegiate Academy Grand Ballroom. *Region 8 meetings - Jim McCharen Center at Choctaw HS

BUSINESS MEETING NEWS

Oklahoma Coaches Association Region Meeting Agenda

February 4, 2026 7:30 P.M.

Call to order.

Invocation.

Select one (1) Large (4A-5A-6A) All State Boys Basketball coach nominee.

Select one (1) Small (B-A-2A-3A) All State Boys Basketball coach nominee.

Select one (1) Large (4A-5A-6A) All State Girls Basketball coach nominee.

Select one (1) Small (B-A-2A-3A) All State Girls

Basketball coach nominee.

Select one (1) Large (5A-6A) All State Boys Wrestling coach nominee.

Select one (1) Small (3A-4A) All State Boys Wrestling coach nominee.

Select one (1) Girls Wrestling coach nominee.

Select one (1) Regional Football Coach of the Year.

Select one (1) Athletic Trainer of the Year Award.

Select one (1) Male Scholar Athlete of the Year. ($500)

Select one (1) Female Scholar Athlete of the Year. ($500)

Select one (1) Bob R. Williams Scholarship recipient. (Male or Female - $500)

15. Discuss Harold Park / Injured Athlete Scholarship. Deadline March 1, 2026. 16. Old Business/Miscellaneous.

a. 2025 All State Athlete Replacements

1. Athletes replaced – 26% in all sports (113 of 436 spots) (Replaced 132 including replacing replacements)

2. No Shows: 19 athletes (417 athletes showed up.)

3. Largest replacement percentage by sport – 53% Cheerleading / 45% Football / 38% Boys Wrestling / 35% Girls Basketball / 23% Girls Wrestling / 20% Boys Basketball

4. Smallest – 1% Student trainers / 3% Tennis / 5% Swimming / 6% Golf / 17% Volleyball

b. Resume/photo for Vice-President Candidates due in OCA office on March 1st.

c. Vice-President candidates must be an active coach and previous board member. 17. Adjourn.

Oklahoma Coaches Association Board Meeting Agenda March 8, 2026

Call to order – U.V Williamson, President.

Invocation.

Presentation of minutes.

Hall of Fame Report.

Financial Report.

Discuss Assistance Plan.

Select the Large East and West (4A-5A-6A) All State Boys

Select the Small East and West (B-A-2A-3A) All State Boys Basketball coaches.

Select the Large East and West (4A-5A-6A) All State Girls Basketball coaches.

Select the Small East and West (B-A-2A-3A) All State Girls Basketball coaches.

Select the Large East and West (5A-6A) All State Boys Wrestling coaches.

Select the

OKLAHOMA COACHES ASSOCIATION DECEMBER 7, 2025

OCA BUILDING BOARD MINUTES

1. Call to Order – U’V Williamson, President.

2. Invocation by Reese Brickman.

3. Reading of July minutes. Minutes approved. Motion to approve by Steve McHenry; seconded by Brad Clark. Motion approved. 8-0

4. Hall of Fame Report – Discussion to increase numbers.

5. Financial Report. Motion to approve by Reese Brickman; seconded by Jon Yates. Motion approved 8-0

6. The board approved All State Football coaches. West: Jake Corbin - Choctaw (Head)

Jeff Hall - Piedmont

Brett Manning - Lawton MacArthur

Curtis Cole – Lone Grove East: Rusty Harris- Tahlequah Sequoyah (Head)

Kylee Sweeney - Bardsdall

Adam Hass - McAlester

Tony Daniels - Collinsville

7. The Board chose All State Cheerleading Coaches: East: Baylie Wilson - Newkirk

West: Amber Hobgood - Cashion

8. The board chose All State Volleyball Coaches:

Large West: Amy Serowski – Yukon

Large East: Jason Stimson - Pryor

Small West: Jamey Cook - Canute

Small East: Abby Piha- Oologah-Talala

9. The Board selected Coaches of the Year for the following sports: Cheerleading, Volleyball, Cross-Country and Fast Pitch Softball. The results will be announced at the 2026 Clinic.

10. Assistance Plan – Motion made to move account to Banc First from MidFirst to save on new excessive banking fees. Motion made by Reese Brickman; seconded by Brad Clark. Motion approved 8-0.

11. Motion made to authorize the Executive Director to employ necessary workers for All State games and clinic by Chad Gilbert. Seconded by Brad Clark. Motion approved 8-0.

12. Motion was made to approve the expense of the clinic by Chad Gilbert; seconded by Zac Livingston. Motion approved 8-0.

13. Motion made by Brad Clark and seconded by Zac Livingston to approve expense of the OCA Board Meeting. Motion approved 8-0.

14. Discussion of corporate sponsors.

15. Discussion of 2026 Clinic site: Wayne discussed the 2026 Clinic/ future speaker ideas/CDL Training.

16. Discussion of the 2026 All State Games.

17. Old Business – Magazine ideas.

18. New Business – Basketball proposal.

a. All Star by Class Selection – Motion made to approve selection plan changes for a BI and BII All Star by Class by Reese Brickman and seconded by Jon Yates. Motion carried 8-0.

b. All State Selection - Motion made to table Class B guaranteed All State selection method by Eric Norton; seconded by Brad Clark. Motion carried 8-0.

c. Swim Selection Plan: Motion to approve submitted changes made by Reese Brickman; seconded by Jon Yates. Motion approved 8-0.

19. Miscellaneous.

a. Executive Director’s Report.

b. Motion made to increase the price of All State ads to $150 for a half-page and $300 for a full page. Motion by Eric Norton; seconded by Jon Yates. Motion carried 8-0.

20. Motion to approve a separate scholarship account and increase scholarship award money in the future when funds become available. Motion made by Steve McHenry; seconded by Brad Clark. Motion approved 8-0.

21. Set Salaries of the office staff.

a. Motion to approve salaries of office staff made by Zac Livingston and seconded by Brad Clark. Motion carried 8-0.

b. Motion to approve bonuses for office staff made by Reese Brickman and seconded by Steve McHenry. Motion car ried 8-0.

c. Motion to approve bonus for Mike Morton for website and registration maintenance made by Zac Livignston and seconded by Reese Brickman. Motion carried 8-0.

22. Motion to adjourn made by Brad Clark and seconded by Eric Norton. Motion carried 8-0.

State Champions

FOOTBALL

6A-I Bixby

6A-II Sand Springs

5A Carl Albert

4A Tuttle

3A Lincoln Christian

2A-I Jones

2A-II Adair

A-I Rejoice Christian

A-II Talihina

B-I Dewar

B-II Seiling

C Ryan

VOLLEYBALL

6A Edmond Memorial

5A Bishop McGuinness

4A Community Christian

3A Casady

FALL BASEBALL

2A Byng

A Okarche

B Calumet

FAST PITCH SOFTBALL

6A Mustang

5A Carl Albert

4A Lone Grove

3A Washington

2A Oktaha

A Arapaho-Butler B Leedey

CROSS COUNTRY – BOYS

6A Deer Creek

5A Bishop Kelley

4A Lincoln Christian

3A Sequoyah Tahlequah

2A Regent Prep A Laverne

CROSS COUNTRY – GIRLS

6A Edmond Memorial

5A Bishop Kelley

4A Lincoln Christian

3A Heritage Hall

2A Regent Prep A Laverne

CHEERLEADING-COMPETITIVE

6A Mustang

5A Heritage Hall

4A Crossings Christian

3A Kiefer

2A Cashion

CHEERLEADING -CO-ED

LG: Owasso

SM: Newkirk

CHEERLEADING -GAME DAY

6A Owasso

5A Bishop McGuinness

4A Crossings Christian

3A Vian

2A Luther POM

LG: Jenks

SM: Bishop McGuinness

UNIFED - Yukon

ALL STATE COACHES

FOOTBALL

EAST

Rusty Harris - Tahlequah Sequoyah (HEAD)

Kylee Sweeney - Barnsdall

Adam Hass - McAlester

Tony Daniels - Collinsville

WEST

Jake Corbin - Choctaw – (HEAD)

Jeff Hall - Piedmont

Brett Manning – Lawton MacArthur

Curtis Cole – Lone Grove

VOLLEYBALL

LARGE EAST

Jason Stimson - Pryor

LARGE WEST

Amy Serowski - Yukon

SMALL EAST

Abby Piha - Oologah-Talala

SMALL WEST

Jamey Cook- Canute

CHEERLEADING

EAST

Baylie Wilson- Newkirk

WEST

Amber Hobgood - Cashion

ALL STATE SWIMMING SELECTION PLAN

Nomination Due Date: March 25, 2026

The Awards Committee shall handle all nominations presented by member coaches of the OCA for consideration for All-State Awards. The Selection process for All State awards will be determined as follows.

1. Nominations can only be made by OCA member coaches in good standing.

a. There may be three (3) nominations each for boys and girls; only three boys and three girls from each school will be eligible for All State.

2. Nominees must be Seniors who swam in the OSSAA State Championship Meet.

3. There will be nine (9) selections of boys and nine (9) selections of girls from both the EAST and WEST Regions (36 total swimmers) determined by their OCA Region designation.

(East Regions: 2, 3, 6 & 7. West Regions: 1, 4, 5 & 8.)

4. A point system will be used based on individual’s final placement at the State Championship Meet with consideration given to overall times of the swimmer in their specific event.

a. Every effort is to be used to balance both 5A & 6A swimmers based on point system.

5. Six (6) Alternate All State swimmers from both EAST and WEST will be chosen to fill the roster in case there are those who cannot swim at the All State Swim Meet. Alternate swimmers/nominees chosen that do not participate in the meet will be eligible for the All Star by Class team and will be eligible to receive the All Star by Class jacket from Synco.

Swimming nominations are due in the OCA office on or before March 25, 2026. Mail to: Oklahoma Coaches Association Email to: 8080 Crystal Park Dr. lea.mouss@oklahomacoaches.org Oklahoma City, OK 73139.

ALL STATE WRESTLING SELECTION PLAN

Nomination Due Date: March 4, 2026

Four selection committees will be formed: one (1) Large and one (1) Small to represent the East and one (1) Large and one (1) Small to represent the West. Large school committees will be comprised for classes 6A & 5A and small school committees will be made up of classes 4A & 3A. The East will represent all schools within regions 2, 3, 6, and 7; the West will represent all schools within regions 1, 4, 5, and 8. Each committee will consist of four coaches - two from each class.

At the annual fall meeting, the Oklahoma Wrestling Coaches Association will select the selection committee. Each coach selected for the committee must be a member of the Oklahoma Coaches Association, then approved by the Oklahoma Coaches Association Board of Control.

The nomination deadline is March 4, 2026 The forms must be an official Oklahoma Coaches Association nomination form completed and signed by the respective head wrestling coach. The head coach must be a member of the OCA in order to nominate an athlete for All State. Incomplete or unofficial nominations will be voided.

NOMINATION GUIDELINES

1. The head coach must be a member of the OCA. Only the head coach can nominate an athlete for All State.

2. A coach may nominate only his senior wrestlers.

3. A coach may nominate his wrestler for only two weights and the wrestler may not be nominated at a weight lower than the lowest weight he wrestled that year. If he is nominated at a weight lower than he wrestled at state, a copy of tournament bracket or dual at the lower weight must be included with nomination.

4. The nomination must include a comprehensive record, resume’ and picture of the wrestler.

The respective selection committee will select thirteen (13) wrestlers, one for each weight class (113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 144, 150, 157, 165, 175, 190, 215 and 285 based on (1) state tournament finish; (2) season record; (3) competition; and (4) career record. Each all state squad will consist of no more that two wrestlers from one school and must include at least one wrestler from each of the four wrestling classes. The selection committee must rank in order of preference the wrestlers in each weight on the honorable mention list. Players shall be listed in order of preference by secret ballot.

WEIGH IN PROCEDURES: When wrestlers report for weigh-in, all wrestlers must be within twelve (12) pounds of weight or be sent home.

All nominations must be in the OCA office by the deadline. You may mail or email a copy to the OCA office. Email nominations should be in .PDF format. Selection committee members are not exempt from the due date. Late nominations brought in the office on the day of the selection will be subject to a fine.

Please return the nomination form to: Oklahoma Coaches Association 8080 Crystal Park Dr. Oklahoma City, OK 73139

EMAIL: lea.mouss@oklahomacoaches.org

ALL STATE GIRLS WRESTLING SELECTION PLAN

Nomination Due Date: March 4, 2026

A selection committee will be formed to represent the East and the West. The committee will consist of two coaches from the East and two from the West. A chairman will assist and be a tiebreaker, if necessary.

The Oklahoma Girls Wrestling Coaches Association will select the selection committee. Each coach selected for the committee must be a member of the Oklahoma Coaches Association, then approved by the Oklahoma Coaches Association Board of Directors.

The nomination deadline is March 4, 2026. The form must be an official Oklahoma Coaches Association nomination form completed and signed by the respective head wrestling coach. The head coach must be a member of the OCA to nominate an athlete for All State. Incomplete or unofficial nominations will be voided.

NOMINATION GUIDELINES

1. The head coach must be a member of the OCA. Only the head coach can nominate an athlete for All State.

2. A coach may nominate only his senior wrestlers.

3. A coach may nominate their wrestler for only two weights and the wrestler may not be nominated at a weight lower than the lowest weight she wrestled that year. If she is nominated at a weight lower than she wrestled at state, a copy of tournament bracket or dual at the lower weight must be included with nomination.

4. The nomination must include a comprehensive record, resume’ and picture of the wrestler.

The respective selection committee will select thirteen (13) wrestlers, one for each weight class (105, 110, 126, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 155, 170, 190 and 235 based on (1) state tournament finish; (2) season record; (3) competition; and (4) career record. Each All State squad will consist of no more that two wrestlers from one school. The selection committee must rank in order of preference the wrestlers in each weight on the honorable mention list. Players shall be listed in order of preference by secret ballot.

WEIGH IN PROCEDURES: When wrestlers report for weigh-in, all wrestlers must be within twelve (12) pounds of weight or be sent home.

Please return the nomination form to:

Oklahoma Coaches Association

8080 Crystal Park Dr. Oklahoma City, OK 73139 EMAIL: lea.mouss@oklahomacoaches.org

Large West (6A / 5A)

Will Delk – Mustang

Erik Ford - Piedmont

Jamie Shawver - Del City

Ashton Cooper – Duncan

Large East (6A / 5A)

Dustin Hughes - Jenks

Danny Jefferson - Union

Andrew McCune - Shawnee

Izack Wilson- Glenpool

(Committee Members are subject to change.)

6A West

Colby Robinson – Edmond North

Tim Draper – Edmond Santa Fe

5A West

Austin Mogg – Hinton

Bryan Miller – Bridge Creek

Chairman:

Barnett – Cashion (Committee Members are subject to change.)

Small West (4A / 3A)

Grant Williams - Weatherford

Riley Williams - Bridge Creek

Steven Wilson - Kingfisher

Andy Howington - Marlow

Small East (4A / 3A)

Kaleb Furr - Mannford

Matt Kennedy - Poteau

Daniel Kendall - Pawnee

Tyson Hume - Warner

6A East

Montana Hatzack – McAlester

Tori Liles – Broken Arrow

5A East

Chad Whitney – McLoud

Emma Johnson – Oologah

President’s Spotlight

U’V Williamson is serving as president of the Oklahoma Coaches Association for the 2025-26 school year. It’s noteworthy that Williamson is the first female president of an association that, let’s face it, has been dominated by the less-than-fair sex. After visiting with this charismatic lady, it’s easy to see why she has been chosen by her peers to lead this incredible organization.

After graduating from Altus High School and attending Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, her long and storied coaching career began at Cordell, where she did her student teaching.

She took her first coaching job at Frederick in 1984, where she served as head basketball and track coach, then moved south to Burns Flat in 1990, where she took the reins as the Eagles’ head basketball and track coach.

After two years at Burns Flat, she went to Okeene, where Mr. King, her former high school principal at Altus, hired her to take over the girls program. She was the head high school basketball and softball coach there for two years, when Ed Robinson, superintendent, hired her at Hollis, where once again she was the head girls basketball and track coach.

After staying at Hollis from 1994 through 2001, she moved to Carnegie, where superintendent Donny Darrow was looking for someone to provide consistent leadership for the girls program. Jack Coody, who in his role as a basketball official, had seen many coaches, told Darrow that Williamson would

by Doyle Greteman

do well for him.

“I liked the way she treated officials and the way she treated her players,” Coody explained. “She never whined about bad calls, just went back to coaching her players up. I told Donny Darrow she would never embarrass the school by her actions.”

“She could walk the walk and talk the talk,” Darrow reflected, saying that he never had to worry about how the girls acted on the court. “She was also great in the classroom, bringing in various speakers. He went on to say that she wanted the tougher kids in her class. She wouldn’t put up with slackers,” he offered.

Darrow told a funny story about how once he was walking through the gym when Williamson was practicing her girls. He said loud enough for everyone to hear, “Coach, I think I could outrun any of these girls.” Williamson pulled him over to the side and whispered in his ear, “Mr. Darrow, that girl over there was a state finalist in the 200 meter dash last year. I think you might want to rethink that challenge.” He took her advice and quickly exited the gym with his pride intact.

Darrow, incidentally, is not only a highly successful retired superintendent, but also an avid golfer. He has played golf with Williamson. Williamson, when asked about that, replied, “I’ve played golf with most of the superintendents I’ve worked for, and can tell you this: “You can tell a great deal about a person when you play golf with them.”

Williamson stayed at Carnegie until 2009, when she moved to Lawton MacArthur to assist head coach Danny Garza. After six years there, she took the head job at Chattanooga, where she stayed until 2022 as head basketball and track coach. That’s when she decided to retire, but that’s not the end of the story.

While at a track meet that spring, two girls from Snyder approached her and asked her if she would consider coming to Snyder. She took the bait, and spent two years there coaching basketball and track.

In 2024, she decided to return to Lawton MacArthur, where she assists Otis Gentry and also assists Gregory Ford in track.

Does she have any specific goals for the association? “Well, I would like to see more women coaches in the profession. I’m not a feminist, and I don’t feel like an outcast, but it would be good to see more females develop the confidence, knowing they can do the job,” she offered.

As far as her philosophy of coaching, it’s simple: Team first, always. “It’s good when you have great players, but the players who aren’t necessarily great but buy into

the concept of team first are the players who make the difference in winning teams,” she continued.

“It’s the kids who aren’t considered great but make a difference in their passing, their on-court decisions, the non-stars—they’re the engine that runs the team—those who always put the team above themselves,” she emphasized.

If you want to know what really makes a coach tick, and how much influence he or she might have on young people, it’s not a bad idea to talk to former players.

Vanessa Nix, professor at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, is one of those former players who reflected on Williamson’s legacy. She played for Williamson at Burns Flat back when it was still six-on-six.

Here’s what she had to say: “My first reaction when I heard she was going to be our head coach was fear. I knew she was friends with Janice Hardwick, one of the best and also one of the toughest coaches around. I figured she would be really hard on us.”

Much to her pleasant surprise, Williamson turned out to be the best of both worlds. “She was tough on us, but we needed that. We loved her because she put everything she had into coaching us. I remember her saying that if she was hollering at us it was because she thought we had potential. She told us that when she quit hollering at us in practice that’s when we needed to be worried.”

Nix went on to say the kids “just loved hanging out with her.” She would open both gyms for them on weekends and they would play three-on-three tournaments. The football players even joined in, and kids who didn’t play anything. It was good for not only basketball, but the school as a whole.

Serving as president of the Oklahoma Coaches Association is quite an honor for anyone, and as far as advice for young coaches, she quickly added, “Join your associations. Show up early, listen and listen, ask questions.”

As we sat in the lobby of the MacArthur field house, with students coming and going, Williamson demonstrated her genuine appeal to other coaches. She took phone calls from coaches as she assisted the athletic director in preparing for a visiting football team coming to Lawton MacArthur for a second round playoff game.

It’s easy to see why she was chosen to represent coaches across the state. Her helpful attitude to visiting coaches, and her honest, candid answers to questions are a credit to the coaching profession. The Oklahoma Coaches Association is blessed to have this lady in charge, if only for a year!

U’V Williamson

ALL STATE BASKETBALL SELECTION PLAN

NOTE: Changes to the selection of Class B-I and Class B-II athletes will be updated after the March OCA Board meeting. The updated selection plan will be posted online.

1. Each classification will have a selection committee for the Large Schools (6A, 5A, 4A) and for the Small Schools (3A, 2A, A, B). The Large School committees will have five (5) members, one (1) from each of the three classifications representing each region of the state and two (2) At-Large. The Small School committees will have five members, one (1) from each of the four classifications representing each region of the state and one (1) At-Large.

2. The Class Selection Committees will be appointed by the Oklahoma Coaches Association Staff upon receiving recommendations from the Oklahoma Boys Basketball Coaches Association and the Oklahoma Girls Basketball Coaches Association. The Final Selection Committees will be chosen by the OCA Staff.

3. A nomination form will be available online to each head basketball coach who is member of the Oklahoma Coaches Association. Copies may be made as needed.

4. Player nominations must be made and signed by his/her coach. Send the original nomination form to the OCA office. You must mail or email the nomination form for your athlete to be considered for All State. Email nomination(s) to: lea.mouss@oklahomacoaches.org

5. Boys’ nomination forms must be received in the OCA office on or before March 25, 2026. Girls’ nomination forms must be received in the OCA office on or before March 26, 2026

6. Each Large school class committee will select a twelve (12) member All Class team. Each Small school class committee will select twelve (12) member All Class team. Players shall be listed in order of preference.

7. Selections are not picked by position. Select the best players.

8. Nominees from any one school will be limited to three (3). A school could have three (3) on the All Star by Class team.

9. The West Large and Small Boys region selection committees will meet the morning of March 31,2026, with the final selection committee meeting that same afternoon. The East Large and Small Boys region selection committees will meet the morning of April 1, 2026 with the final selection committee meeting that same afternoon.

10. The West Large and Small Girls region selection committees will meet the morning of April 7, 2026 with the final selection committee meeting that same afternoon. The East Large and Small Girls region selection committees will meet the morning of April 8, 2026 with the final selection committee meeting that same afternoon.

11. Each class will be represented by at least one (1) player in the All State Game. This will be the player who comes out of the class selection committee ranked number one. In case of a tie for class player of the year, the Final selection committee will break the tie.

12. The Large school final selection committee will receive thirty-six (36) All Class players from their half of the state. The Small school final committee will receive forty-eight (48) All Class players from their half of the state.

13. The final selection committee for the Large class schools will select a ten (10) member All State team – two (2) players from each class and four (4) At-Large players. The final selection committee for the Small class schools will select a ten (10) member All State team – one (1) player from each class and six (6) At-Large players.

14. The final selection committees will select a ten (10) member honorable mention list and rank them 1-10. These alternates must be selected in order of ranking to replace a player who is unable to participate in the All State Game.

15. The final selection committees will be composed of seven (7) representatives for the Large schools and nine (9) representatives for the Small schools. The Large School committee will have one (1) member from each class and two (2) At-Large representatives. The Small school committee will have one (1) member from each class and one (1) At-Large. Each region will be represented on the final selection committee.

16. When a member of the selection committee has a player under consideration by the committee, that coach will step out of the meeting at that time.

17. All State selections will be released from the OCA office.

Mail nomination form to:

Oklahoma Coaches Association

8080 Crystal Park Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73139

Email nominations to:

lea.mouss@oklahomacoaches.org

Selection committee members are NOT exempt from the due date. Please mail or email all nominations to the OCA office. Email nominations must be in a .PDF format.

Nominations brought in the day of the selection meeting will be subject to a late fee of $25.00 per nomination form.

Boys’ Due Date: March 25, 2026

Girls’ Due Date: March 26, 2026

OCA 2026 ALL STAR BY CLASS

Girls BasketBall selection committee

WEST

Region LaRge SchooL

1 kATie bAss musTAng

4 rAsHelle Crowley lAwTon eisenHower

5 CHAD THrAilkill** normAn

8 ryAn mAloney CHoCTAw

Al Hope Heinen* Deer Creek

Region LaRge SchooL

1 Jennifer DouglAs el reno

4 JAreD blACk** AlTus

5 linDsey vAnDerburg noble

8 kyle riCHey * CArl AlberT

Al megAn knigHT miDwesT CiTy

Region LaRge SchooL

1 ....... TAylor young ................... kingfisHer

4 bo THomAson** CACHe

5 ....... DAviD sikes........................ blAnCHArD

8 eriC sAiler* beTHAny Al grAnT gAsH plAinview

Region SmaLL SchooL

1 Jeremy Jones* AlvA

4 CHris gATes AnADArko

5 megAn robbins** mArlow

8 oliviA nixon HeriTAge HAll Al lAToyA JACkson millwooD

2A

Region SmaLL SchooL

1 AnDreA TAylor* CAsHion

4 bobby DAwson wAlTers

5 mArk sAvAge** sTrATforD

8 Jennifer HAyDen oCA

Al oliviA mAllory fAirview

A

Region SmaLL SchooL

1...... breTT TAHAH* ............... okArCHe

4 TATum riDing CAnuTe

5...... JAiCee powers** ........... empire

1 Jim peTree THomAs-fAy-CusTer Al TrenT miller Amber-poCAsseT

B-I

Region SmaLL SchooL

1 JAmie DAvis** CAnTon

4 .........JosH TrenT*..............................forT Cobb-broxTon

5 CrisTie oliver ninnekAH

4 brADy HAmAr seiling

Al kelli kAnA wilson

B-II

Region SmaLL SchooL

1 leAH beer leeDey

4 riCk smiTH eriCk

5 lAnCe sumner** pAoli

4 sTACie TerbusH olusTee

Al kevin lewAllen* lomegA

EAST

Region LaRge SchooL

2 ....... DArlene CAlip*................... sApulpA

3 eriC Holmes muskogee

2 ....... miCHA esTrADA ................... ponCA CiTy

7 rylie liTTleJoHn bixby Al..... JAmie Combs** .................... Jenks

Region LaRge SchooL

2 Tobey nigHTengAle pryor

3 JADe Allison CoweTA

6 Tony robinson* DurAnT

7 kAilAn wooDs Collinsville

Al wenDi wells** sHAwnee

Region LaRge SchooL

2...... nATHAn reeD ................ mAnnforD

3 sCoTT lowe** forT gibson

6...... elDon genTry .............. TeCumseH

7 meloDy sTewArT linColn CHrisTiAn

Al ... CHrisTie Jennings*........ ADA

Region SmaLL SchooL

2 kenT frAnz** CHAnDler

3 DenisHA posey wyAnDoTTe

6 CHAD rumer* kingsTon

7 brAD CrACe sperry

Al TArA sATTerfielD beTHel

2A

Region SmaLL SchooL

2 briAn kADer okemAH

3 brooke JACkson CommerCe

6 CHris brown Howe

7 misTi Cussen** summiT CHrisTiAn Al eriC smiTH* DAle

A

Region SmaLL SchooL

2...... lAuren CAmpo** ........... DrumrigHT

3 Tom HubbArD AfTon

6...... DoTTie slAbAugH .......... Allen

6 kolby JoHnson* CADDo

Al ... ClAy Conley ................ QuinTon

B-I

Region SmaLL SchooL

2 JAson Collins** fronTier

3 bobbie wHeAT gAns

6...... Jon HADley* ................. vArnum

2 CHAD TsoTigH wooDlAnD

Al ... sHAne puTnAm .............. wHiTesboro

B-II

Region SmaLL SchooL

2...... JessiCA AsHer .............. sHiDler

3 Doug winTers** blueJACkeT

6...... Jim Jensen* .................. piTTsburg

2 CurTis lee pADen

Al ... CHris gibbs.................. bATTiesT

1-4-5-8

Large West

6A (8)..Hope Heinen Deer Creek

6A (5)..CHAD THrAilkill** normAn

5A ... (1)..Jennifer DouglAs .. el reno

5A (8)..kyle riCHey CArl AlberT

4A (1)..TAylor young* kingfisHer

4A (4)..bo THomAson CACHe

Al ... (5)..grAnT gAsH ........... plAinview

1-4-5-8

Small West

3A ... (1)..Jeremy Jones* ......... AlvA

3A (5)..megAn robbins mArlow

2A (5)..mArk sAvAge sTrATforD

2A (1)..oliviA mAllory fAirview

A .... (4)..TATum riDling ........ CAnuTe

A (5)..TrenT miller Amber-poCAsseT

b-i (4)..JosH TrenT forT Cobb-broxTon

b-ii (1)..kevin lewAllen** lomegA

Al ... (8)..lAToyA JACkson ..... millwooD

2-3-6-7

Large East

6A ... (2)..DArlene CAlip ........ sApulpA

6A (7)..rylie liTTleJoHn bixby

5A (6)..Tony robinson** DurAnT

5A (3)..Tobey nigHTengAle pryor

4A ... (7)..meloDy sTewArT ........linColn CHrisTiAn

4A (6)..CHrisTie Jennings* ADA

Al (3)..sCoTT lowe forT gibson

2-3-6-7

Small East

3A (6)..TArA sATTerfielD beTHel

3A (7)..brAD CrACe sperry

2A ... (6)..CHris brown* ........ Howe

2A (6)..eriC smiTH** DAle

A (3)..Tom HubbArD AfTon

A (6)..ClAy Conley QuinTon

b-i ... (2)..JAson Collins ........ fronTier

b-ii (3)..Doug winTers blueJACkeT

Al (2)..kenT frAnz CHAnDler

OCA 2026 ALL STAR BY CLASS

Boys BasketBall selection committee

WEST

Region LaRge SchooL

1...... brAnDon JACkson ......... musTAng

4 CrAig fosTer lAwTon ike

5...... gregg HArDin * ............ moore

8 sHAne CowHerD** eDmonD memoriAl

Al ... briAn booker ............... puTnAm CiTy

Region LaRge SchooL

1 roDney HAyDon ** el reno

4 mArCo gAgliArDi lAwTon mAC

5 roger rAper noble

8 JAke brown bisHop mCguinness Al JAy priCe* CArl AlberT

Region LaRge SchooL

1 DerriCk bull weATHerforD

4 zACH Ange CACHe

5 kevin korsTJens briDge Creek

8 brAnDon weAver** oCs Al pATriCk CuDJoe* okC JoHn mArsHAll

Region SmaLL SchooL

1 Cole Hibler CHisHolm

4 Doug sCHumperT * AnADArko

5 kirk HArris** mArlow

8 DorriAn williAms millwooD

Al Trevor smiTH wAsHingTon

Region SmaLL SchooL

1 brAnDon nyberg wATongA

4 peTe pHillips HinTon

5 CACHe Hill** minCo

Al Jeremy romAn oCA

Al JoHn HArDAwAy * CAsHion

A

Region SmaLL SchooL

1 AAron wesT okArCHe

4 broCk sTeffes CAnuTe

5 AAron gArreTT** Amber-poCAsseT

Al kenny bAre * velmA-AlmA

Al HeATH kufAHl sw CovenAnT

B-I

Region SmaLL SchooL

1 JACob mAyfielD** CAlumeT

4 ......... sCoTT Hines * ........................... forT Cobb-broxTon

5 wes pulliAm ninnekAH

Al orin mCgee boise CiTy

Al TAylor rAines binger-oney

B-II

Region SmaLL SchooL

1...... JAreD reese ................. Dover

4 niCk gAble* Duke

5...... kAleb gAlAviz ............... mAysville

Al lAnCe CArpenTer** leeDey

Al ... gArreTT bebermeyer .... sweeTwATer

EAST

Region LaRge SchooL

2 JACob birnbAum ponCA CiTy

3 lenny berT muskogee

7 sCoTT norris* union Al beAu wAllACe** broken Arrow Al DAniel mCCHesney Jenks

Region LaRge SchooL

3 rob mCkinzie CoweTA

3 nATHAn smiTH** pryor

6 lou DAwkins mCAlesTer

7 miCHAel pArrisH TulsA eAsT CenTrAl

Al bobby Allison * TulsA memoriAl

Region LaRge SchooL

2 DAniel brimmer * ClevelAnD

3 ToDD DiCkerson forT gibson

6 burTCHel griffin iDAbel

7 bryon flAm meTro CHrisTiAn

Al ClyDe bArkley ** inolA

Region SmaLL SchooL

2 sHAwn blAnkensHip CHAnDler

3 TrAvis CAnnADy ADAir

6 DArnell sHAnklin* Hugo

7 ryAn wAkley** viCTory CHrisTiAn

Al eD lewis rolAnD

Region SmaLL SchooL

2 CHAse liTTleJoHn * presTon

3 sAm bAnker keTCHum

6 TrenT sTorTs lATTA

6 briTT brown** Howe

Al fleTCHer reeD DAle

A

Region SmaLL SchooL

2 Doug sCoTT * ripley

3 Tw esTes gore

6 kolby JoHnson** CADDo

7 JAson bogle riverfielD

Al JAson brAy DrumrigHT

B-I

Region SmaLL SchooL

2 bob weCksTein* fronTier

3 Jim glover webbers fAlls

6 miCHAel ClAy rATTAn

Al CHris Jones sAsAkwA

Al Jon HADley** vArnum

B-II

Region SmaLL SchooL

2...... CurTis lee* .................. pADen

2 ivAn mCfArlin AgrA

6...... TJ grey ....................... bATTiesT

Al Devin Terry** AsHer

Al ... mCklAine mArQuez ....... boswell *Chairman **Vice-Chairman AL = At-Large Committee Members are subject to

Boys BasketBall

Final selection committee

1-4-5-8

Large West

6A (8)..sHAne CowHerD eDmonD memoriAl

6A (1)..brAnDon JACkson musTAng

5A ... (5)..roger rAper** ...... noble

5A (4)..mArCo gAgliArDi lAwTon mAC

4A (4)..zACk Ange CACHe

4A (1).DerriCk bull* weATHerforD

Al ... (8)..JAy priCe ............... CArl AlberT

1-4-5-8

Small West

3A (4)..Doug sCHumperT AnADArko

3A ... (5)..Trevor smiTH ......... wAsHingTon

2A (1)..brAnDon nyberg wATongA

2A (1)..JoHn HArDAwAy CAsHion

A (5)..kenny bAre* velmA-AlmA

A .... (4)..broCk sTeffes ....... CAnuTe

b-i (1)..oren mCgee boise CiTy

b-ii (4)..niCk gAble Duke

Al (8)..DorriAn williAms** millwoooD

2-3-6-7

Large East

6A (7)..beAu wAllACe* broken Arrow

6A ... (7)..sCoTT norris......... union

5A (6)..lou DAwkins mCAlesTer

5A (3)..nATHAn smiTH pryor

4A (3)..ToDD DiCkerson forT gibson

4A ... (2)..DAniel brimmer** ... ClevelAnD

Al (3)..ClyDe bArkley inolA

2-3-6-7

Small East

3A (3)..eD lewis** rolAnD

3A (3)..TrAvis CAnnADy ADAir

2A ... (6)..briTT brown .......... Howe

2A (6)..TrenT sTorTs lATTA

A (2)..Doug sCoTT* ripley

A (6)..kolby JoHnson CADDo

b-i ... (6)..Jon HADley ............ vArnum

b-ii (2)..CurTis lee pADen

Al (6)..DArnell sHAnklin Hugo

A Breath of Fresh Air

There’s something about stepping outside on a frosty winter morning in Oklahoma and taking a long, deep breath of that crisp, clear air! It’s invigorating, to say the least!

We’ve all heard that success breeds success. Unfortunately, at times it also breeds arrogance.

Not in the case of one Brady Hamar, head girls coach at Seiling. I sat down with this humble young man recently, and was impressed with not only his incredible coaching record, but his genuine personality.

He was on his way to the state championship football game where his Seiling Wildcats were playing. (Incidentally, then won big.) He was accompanied by his impressive wife, Haylee.

by Doyle Greteman

He graduated from Thomas High School in 1994. His head coach, Jim Petree, remembered that Hamar had averaged 18 points a game his senior year. “We beat number one Coyle in the Regional Finals, then had to come back and play them again in the Area Finals,” Petree recalled. Coyle came back to win that one, then waltzed their way to the state title.

Petree, who has come out of retirement to coach the Thomas Lady Terriers, noted that “we have felt the wrath of his Seiling teams. They have had a really good run under his leadership.”

Back in Brady’s playing days, Petree had assisted Brian Hamar, Brady’s father, with the Lady Terriers, and Brian had assisted him with the boys.

After high school, Hamar played bas-

ketball at Southwestern Oklahoma State University for three years under George Hauser as a shooting guard.

Brady began his career student-teaching at Burns Flat. The Eagle Administration obviously recognized the potential of this young man, and they hired him to assist Todd Kerr.

He stayed there for three years, when he had the opportunity to be the head girls coach at Seiling. That’s where the moving stopped.

For the last 23 years, he has been the head girls coach, compiling a record of 524111. Yes, you saw that right.

The Big House has seen his girls teams 16 times in that span. Seven of those trips resulted in the gold ball. Until last year, he had won back-to-back-to-back.

What about the shot clock that’s coming next year? “It’s okay with us, but I’m afraid it won’t be a good thing for some of the small schools,” he offered.

As far as his coaching philosophy is concerned, he says “The biggest deal is this: Do you get the most out of them? Do they have a good work ethic? That’s what we need to ask ourselves.”

We have a good number of young coaches in Oklahoma. What advice would he give them? “Have high expectations, but be realistic. Don’t get frustrated with kids who test you.”

Haylee, Brady’s high school sweetheart, is presently an elementary special education teacher at Seiling. When questioned about what it was like to be married to a coach, she deftly responded: “It’s been good to us. There are a number of highs and lows.”

Who has been the toughest opposing coach he had to face? Without hesitating, he responded, “My dad. I never beat him. His father, Brian Hamar, was coaching at Thomas while Brady was at Seiling. We played for three years, and he beat me every time.”

Brian was a highly successful coach as well, coaching at Fairview and Clinton, as well as Thomas.

What has been his most memorable coaching moment? After reflecting for a moment, Hamar responded, “It would have to be in the 2022 state championship game against Hydro-Eakly. With 18 seconds left in the game, we were down by one. Our daughter, Teagan, went to the line with a one-and-one opportunity. She sank both shots, and we won the gold ball by a score of 47-46.

As far as this year’s edition of Lady Wildcats, he had this to say: “We lost two All-Staters from last year’s team, and we need to find a way to replace that scoring. We have great kids, however, and they want to go back to the state tournament.

Reflecting on his many trips to the old state fair arena, affectionately known as “The Big House,” he said it won’t ever be the same. “There was just something about that atmosphere, even with those old locker rooms. We’re going to miss that, but we’re looking forward for a chance to play in the new arena,” he added.

Hamar and his family have been a big

part of that tradition at the old arena, but he hopes to begin a new one next March as the Lady Wildcats will try to be one of the teams in the inaugural visit to the new showcase.

When asked if he had any thoughts about what it takes to be a successful coach, Brian said, “Yes, I want to say that great assistants are vital to a team, and I’ve had two of the best.”

He was referring to Claire Shuck, with whom he worked from 1978 to 2025, and Bryan Gore, who has been with him since 2012.

With his outstanding success at Seiling, one would wonder if he has had any thoughts about moving to a bigger school. “I have no desire to leave Seiling. We’re excited to live here, and there’s just something about these small western Oklahoma schools that we love,” he emphasized.

As stated in the beginning of the article, success often breeds success. Brady Hamar is a living example of this. He is also a testament to the fact that success does not have to breed arrogance. It can also breed modesty, a humble attitude, and a feeling of good will.

Brady Hamar is a breath of fresh air!

OKLAHOMA COACHES ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP CRITERIA

A Coach (OCA member) must nominate their athlete at their respective region meeting. Scholarship nominees from each region will be voted on and chosen at the region meetings.

If an acceptable applicant does not apply for the scholarship during a given year, the scholarship money will be retained in the treasury of the association and no scholarship will be awarded for that particular year. If the financial condition of the association makes this scholarship infeasible, it can be discontinued until the financial condition of the association makes it feasible.

Any problems that may arise as to the administration of this scholarship will be under the jurisdiction of the board of control of the Oklahoma Coaches Association.

The Scholar Athlete and Bob R. Williams Scholarships are chosen at the February region meetings. The Athletes of the Year Scholarships are chosen at the April region meetings. The following scholarship recipients are chosen at the OCA region meetings:

BOB R. WILLIAMS SCHOLARSHIP ($500.00):

The Oklahoma Coaches Association shall award this scholarship to (8) eight (one per region) senior athletes. The selection shall be based on the student overcoming obstacles, disabilities or injury in order to participate in high school athletics. Applicants who qualify for the Bob R. Williams Scholarship are not eligible for the Injured Athlete Scholarship. Each of these eight winners will be awarded the sum of $500.00.

SCHOLAR ATHLETE SCHOLARSHIP - Male and Female ($500.00):

The Oklahoma Coaches Association shall award (16) sixteen scholarships annually to senior students who have participated on the varsity level and have excelled academically. These awards for the amount of $500.00 each will be given each year to (1) one male and (1) one female in each region.

REGION ATHLETE OF THE YEAR SCHOLARSHIP - Male and Female ($500.00):

The Oklahoma Coaches Association shall award (1) one male and (1) one female scholarship in each region. The scholarships will be in the amount of $500.00 each and shall be awarded to senior students who have excelled athletically, scholastically, and morally and have exhibited all the desirable traits of citizenship.

The Male Athlete of the Year and the Female Athlete of the Year will be selected from the recipients of the Regional Athlete of the Year awards. The selection will take place at the May OCA Board Meeting. Each will receive a plaque designating them as “Athlete of the Year”.

HAROLD PARK / INJURED ATHLETE SCHOLARSHIP

($500.00)

The Oklahoma Coaches Association shall sponsor an annual one-year scholarship to a graduating high school senior athlete, who because of an athletic injury, or sickness, will be unable to attend college on an athletic scholarship. The designed purpose of this scholarship is to help athletes who prior to an athletic injury, or sickness, had the potential of attending college on an athletic grant. If this student has become incapacitated during his, or her high school participation, this scholarship will give an opportunity to attend college his or her freshman year.

Applicants who qualify for the Injured Athlete Scholarship are not eligible for the Bob R. Williams Scholarship.

The scholarship will be awarded on a one-year basis. The scholarship will pay $500.00. There will be a maximum of six (6) scholarships awarded, based on qualified applications.

The money may be used for enrollment fees, books, tuition, or may be applied to the student’s room and board. No cash will be awarded to the student.

The scholarship will be based on these qualifications:

Scholarship, leadership, citizenship, athletic potential before injury, morals, interest in athletics, desire for education, and need (not destitution).

Coaches who wish to apply should call the OCA office to receive the necessary form. A letter of recommendation from the coach and high school principal must accompany the application. The application shall be received no later than March 1, of the student’s senior year. This application must be sent to the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Coaches Association and shall be accompanied by a statement as to the nature and extent of the injury from the student’s family doctor.

The Board of Directors, during their spring meeting, will make the final decision as to the recipient(s) of the scholarship.

If the acceptable applicant does not apply for the scholarship during a given year, the scholarship money will be retained in the treasury of the association and no scholarship will be awarded for that particular year. In the event that the financial condition of the association makes this scholarship infeasible, it can be discontinued until the financial condition of the association makes it feasible.

Any problems that may arise as to the administration of this scholarship will be under the jurisdiction of the board of control of the Oklahoma Coaches Association.

1. Up to SIX (6) HAROLD PARK / INJURED ATHLETE................................$500.00 EACH Must apply to OCA office prior to March 1

2. EIGHT (8) BOB R. WILLIAMS....................................................................$500.00 EACH Selected at the February Region Meeting

3. EIGHT (8) MALE REGIONAL SCHOLAR ATHLETE.................................$500.00 EACH Selected at the February Region Meeting

4. EIGHT (8) FEMALE REGIONAL SCHOLAR ATHLETE.............................$500.00 EACH Selected at the February Region Meeting

5. EIGHT (8) MALE REGIONAL ATHLETE OF THE YEAR...........................$500.00 EACH Selected at the April Region Meeting

6. EIGHT (8) FEMALE REGIONAL ATHLETE OF THE YEAR......................$500.00 EACH Selected at the April Region Meeting The Male Athlete of the Year and the Female Athlete of the Year will be selected at the May OCA Board Meeting. Each will be presented with a plaque designating them as “Athlete of the Year” at the OCA Hall of Fame banquet. In an acceptable applicant does not apply for the scholarship during a given year, the scholarship money will be retained in the treasury of the association and no scholarship will be awarded for that year. If the financial condition of the association makes this scholarship infeasible, it can be discontinued until the financial condition of the association makes it feasible.

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OKLAHOMA COACHES ASSOCIATION

Oklahoma Coaches Association

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OKLAHOMA COACHES ASSOCIATION 2026

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Big House, Big Memories

It was a 60-year relationship. A marriage of sorts. It was high school and youth. Basketball and spirit. Expectation and confidence.

It was 60 years of euphoria. Sixty years of heartbreak. Sixty years of scrapbook reflections.

Sixty years of life its ownself.

The Big House. Oklahoma’s citadel of high school basketball. One of a kind. It might not have been postcard pretty. But it was some kind of special.

Sure, there were other sports, other events, other memories created within the confines of The Big House.

But it was high school basketball that was the lifeblood, the legacy of The Big House. And, vice versa. They were made for each other.

Dreams came to life inside The Big House.

Dreams also died inside The Big House.

The mere utterance of the name alone, three monosyllabic words, conjures up a scorebook of images and causes youthful hearts to race

For 60 years. From March 1966 through March 2025, The Big House on the fairgrounds in Oklahoma City was home to the state’s most electric and most beloved springtime ritual: The crowning of Oklahoma’s high school basketball state championship teams. Boys and girls. Parents and grandparents. Large schools and small. Urban and suburban.

High school basketball and The Big House were synonymous. Interchangeable. Inextricably linked.

Yet, like many things in life, good things, good times, can’t and don’t roll on unfettered forever.

The good thing known as The Big House, and all the good times it generated, became the victim of time and circumstance. It had run its course, served its purpose.

Built in 1965, The Big House was 60 years old. Four generations of memories were deemed to be enough.

Oklahoma City was ready to divorce The Big House.

In August, the end was swift. An implosion reduced The Big House to a pile of Big Rubble.

Let the recollections begin.

As fall turned to winter in 2025, and as the new OG&E Coliseum ascended to its role as successor, The Oklahoman and Pediment Publishing joined forces to produce a memory-filled and sincere 144-page eulogy rejoicing in the life and times of The Big House.

For Oklahoma high school basketball fans, for history buffs, the simple and justly titled volume “The Big House” is a must-have, must-read publication. Conventionally, Oklahoma City crowned the barn-like structure in 1965 State Fair Arena. Later, it became Jim Norick Arena.

But for the high school basketball crowd, from the Panhandle to Little Dixie, it was The Big House.

After years of staging the state tournament in Oklahoma City’s Municipal Auditorium (built in 1937 and now known as Civic Center Music Hall), the OSSAA was entering a new era in 1965-66.

State Fair Arena quickly became an entertainment destination. There was professional hockey, the National Finals Rodeo, concerts, the All-College basketball tournament.

And as fate would have it, naturally through pluck and certitude, Oklahoma’s high school basketball state tournament outlasted them all. It matured.

by Terrell Lester

It flourished. It became the event by which all others were measured.

In 1966, the OSSAA crowned seven basketball state champions on the floor of the Arena, four boys, three girls.

In 2025, the OSSAA crowned seven boys champions, seven girls champions.

Speculation in 2025 is that not a single participant knew of State Fair Arena.

Every participant, every fan knew only The Big House.

And it was a football coach who affectionately attached that appellation.

Joe Tunnell, who died in 2021 after a Hall of Fame career, spent 14 of his 41 coaching years at Lindsay. While at Lindsay, Tunnell served several seasons as assistant to basketball coach Charlie Heatly, both boys and girls.

Heatly, a Hall of Fame member and girls basketball icon, died in 2018. He relished in telling stories of Tunnell and the “naming” of The Big House.

It was something of an off-the-cuff remark during the 1968 season, Heatly recalled. His Lindsay girls team had just qualified for the state tournament.

And Tunnell that week, according to Heatly, “just said something about us making ‘The Big House.’”

Heatly, unsurpassed in his promotion of Oklahoma high school basketball, latched onto the phrase. Began to repeat the words in team meetings and pep talks. He even suggested “The Big House” to a sporting goods store owner looking for a hook to emblazon state tournament garb.

T-shirts rapidly sprouted up. “The Big House” became the hottest catch-phrase in town.

Lindsay, with Heatly and Tunnell on the bench, won the 1968 Class A girls championship.

An historical intersection.

Lindsay celebrated a state championship. The entire state celebrated the birthing of a championshiplevel nickname. Welcome to The Big House.

As a young sports writer for the Tulsa World in the 1960s, I was assigned to cover the first state tournament in the Arena in March 1966.

I reported on Arcadia’s third straight Class C crown. I marveled at the unparalleled talent of Ray Russell as he carried Oklahoma City Northeast to the first of its back-to-back championships.

It was the launching pad for a newspaper career that included ever so many memorable state tournament assignments.

For instance, 1969. Bertha Frank Teague’s final game.

Gov. Dewey Bartlett had declared that Saturday in March to be Bertha Frank Teague Day. She was coaching the final game of her 43-year career at Byng.

As if scripted by Hollywood writers, Byng defeated Elk City, 40-39, on a rebound shot at the buzzer for her eighth state championship and victory No. 1,157 in her hall of fame career.

The Arena was home to the Oklahoma City’s professional hockey team in those early years. And during the two weekend state tournaments in March, it was sometimes necessary to leave the hockey ice in place while laying out the basketball floor.

From Thursday starts through Saturday night finishes, media members at courtside tables experienced some extreme and uncomfortable conditions

(i.e., cold feet, runny noses) while seated just inches above the floor of ice.

Then there were the weather conditions outside the Arena. Even as a relatively new facility, the Arena was cursed with a roof that was no match for Oklahoma’s spring rains.

A number of games in the 1960s, early ‘70s were played while ball boys tended buckets on the court to catch raindrops. For one tournament, the floor was actually shifted toward one end of the Arena in an attempt to avoid the splashes of rain.

Those instances and recollections are not meant to detract from the glorious memories that remain intact after six historic decades of writing about and watching in awe some of Oklahoma’s most elite athletes and their gold-plated competition.

Class C boys teams like Ringwood and Arcadia, Class B teams like Sasakwa and New Lima, Class A teams like Boley and Fort Towson.

Girls teams like Latta and Lindsay, Colbert and Okarche, Preston and Thomas.

Basketball legends were born, and canonized, inside The Big House. Names like Alvan Adams, Winford Boynes, Larry Hardeman. And Blake Griffin, Rotnei Clarke, Keiton Page.

Carol Lane and Janice Beach were two of the earliest Big House girls legends. Then came Kelli Litsch, Bettina Turner, Crystal Robinson. And Angel Goodrich, Jaden Hobbs, Rose Hammond.

The Big House saw the demise of 6-on-6 girls basketball, the arrival of 5-on-5.

The Big House lost the dunk shot for a few years and found the 3-point shot.

The Big House crowned one-time champs and hailed four-peat champs (as Dale boys closed out the final days on such a streak).

The Big House provided The Big Stage for The Big Event for 60 Big Years.

But for Oklahoma City Millwood, it took only 50 years to build up those golden memories.

How totally appropriate was it for Millwood to pick up another gold ball during the final weekend of The Big House.

By winning the 2025 Class 3A championship, Millwood ran its state-leading total of titles to 18, most of any boys or girls teams.

Each and every one of Millwood’s gold balls was earned inside The Big House. And they all came since 1976.

No team has won or played in more games at The Big House than Millwood (record: 51-17), according to iwasatthegame.com.

Indeed, Millwood put an exclamation point on the final story from The Big House. A golden final story.

The Golden Age in any sport, any endeavor, is traditionally limited to a decade, or thereabouts.

In the future, when the question is raised about the Golden Age of Oklahoma high school basketball, one need only point to the The Big House.

Sixty years of incomparable high school basketball within the cavernous confines of The Big House make up what can safely be labeled Oklahoma’s Golden Age.

RIP, Big House.

(Terrell Lester is a newspaper man who lives in Claremore.)

Oklahoma Coaches All State Volleyball

LARGE EAST

6A LILLY BOSWELL .................... BROKEN ARROW .................................. IAN BULLEN

6A RYLIE STEWARD BIXBY DEREK SEROWSKI

6A TAYLOR RATTAY STILLWATER ANDRUE BROWN

6A EMERSON HILL.............................. JENKS ......................................... STEPH KANE

6A ISABELLA HINDS ........................... JENKS ......................................... STEPH KANE

6A BROOKLYN SHOPE SAND SPRINGS SKYLAR JACKSON

5A ARRIE BROWN TULSA BOOKER T WASHINGTON TAYLAN NERO

5A FAITH CAFFEY ......................... CLAREMORE .............................DEREK JACKSON

5A RAINEY WHITE ............................. PRYOR ...................................JASON STIMSON

5A HAYDEN HUMPHREY SAPULPA COREY HARP

LARGE WEST

6A LOLUFE ADEDEJI EDMOND MEMORIAL KORTNEY JONES

6A OLIVIA BRANUM WESTMOORE KIMBERLY KAHAO

6A REAGAN MASON ................ EDMOND SANTA FE ....................... DREW MCCARTY

6A JAELI RUTLEDGE ................. EDMOND NORTH ......................... FAITH GOODNER

6A KRISTEN STRAUGHN MOORE RACHAEL SIMMONS

5A ELLA HALE MOUNT ST MARY JAMES WARD

5A RACHEL MEGNA ..... OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL .......... RACHEL SINCLAIR

5A MILEY MYERS ......... OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL .......... RACHEL SINCLAIR

5A EMMA GARDNER BISHOP MCGUINNESS KELLI MILLER

5A CHARLOTTE NELSON BISHOP MCGUINNESS KELLI MILLER

SMALL EAST

4A ANA APPEL VICTORY CHRISTIAN BRITTANY MCCAW

3A LAWESSA BRIGANCE CHOUTEAU-MAIZIE BELINDA BURK

3A HAILEY BRIDGEFORD ........ METRO CHRISTIAN......................... YAMIQ BENNETT

4A JADA BELLE FAULKNER ... LINCOLN CHRISTIAN ......................... DEIDRA RADER

3A RAYLEE GRIMES ................ METRO CHRISTIAN......................... YAMIQ BENNETT

4A LANEE HEFLIN VICTORY CHRISTIAN BRITTANY MCCAW

4A ALLIE IHLOFF CASCIA HALL JENNY PEARSON

4A ADELE JOHNSON .................... CASCIA HALL.............................JENNY PEARSON

4A TYRA MCKINNIE ........................ GLENPOOL ................................. JOHN HAMMER

3A AVERY ROBSON HOLLAND HALL SHELBY SWANSON

SMALL WEST

4A SKYLAR BRADY .......................... BETHANY ...................................... KERRI CAGLE

4A EMERY WILLIAMS ..........COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN .............. CHRISTINA MAYNES

4A PIERSON SMITH COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN CHRISTINA MAYNES

4A MAYA MCPHAUL BETHANY KERRI CAGLE

4A ASHLYNNE HALE ..............CHRISTIAN HERITAGE ................. HEATHER BENEDIX

4A LAYNIE SMITH ...................CHRISTIAN HERITAGE ................. HEATHER BENEDIX

3A KERRIGAN MAUCK OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY MELODY STEELMAN

3A KATE STEWART CORN BIBLE ACADEMY ERIN BASINGER

3A MADDIE FLEMING ....................... CASADY .......................... RACHEL MANRIQUEZ

3A ANNABELLE WEBBER ... SOUTHWEST COVENANT ..................... HEATH KUFAHL

Oklahoma Coaches

2026 East All State Cheerleading Squad

JAXON ROOP BROKEN ARROW KYRSTIN DELEHANTY

EDEN LAU...................................... OWASSO ....................... LESLIE VANMETER

VANAEH HUGHEY ......................... OWASSO ....................... LESLIE VANMETER

GEORGIA MONKS HOLLAND HALL CAMRYN WINTERS

KYNLEE RETTEDAL BROKEN ARROW KYRSTIN DELEHANTY

TORRANCE JAVERSAK .................. JENKS ............................... ASHLYN GLENN

EMMA MARTIN ............................. SALLISAW ............................. ROBBI MARTIN

EMMI LYON COLLINSVILLE ALICIA HERALD

LILLI KEEFER .................................... ADA ..................................KARRY GRIESE

ALIVIAH DANIELS ......................... QUINTON .......................BROOKE MCCLARY

ELLA MAHAN HOLLAND HALL CAMRYN WINTERS

HALLI RUSSELL VIAN JORDAN WHITE

MADALYNN COLLINS ..................... UNION ............................ STACEY DURANT

BAILEY PECK .................................. JENKS ............................... ASHLYN GLENN

BELLA-KATE HUGHES STILLWATER LAUREN DUHON

LEXI STEPHEN ................................GROVE................................ KELSEY RHINE

2026 West All State Cheerleading Squad

KATY DIESSELHORST .............. DEER CREEK .......................JOLINDA BROWN

EMMA SWINDELL..........................BETHANY................................ CASSIE ROSS

EVYN ACKERMAN............... EDMOND MEMORIAL ................ LAUREN JARDOT

RYLIE FISHER CROSSINGS CHRISTIAN RAELYNN BURDETT

SAVANNAH WORDEN ............ EDMOND NORTH .........................ERIN BERGER

AHNIYAH RUVALCABA .......... MOUNT ST MARY .......................... ANI VAZQUEZ

ZOELIE DEATON EDMOND SANTA FE MEGAN MOLINSKY

SWAYZE STEELY ........................... MOORE ................................. SHANA LEWIS

KYLIE HENSON ............................. CASHION ........................ AMBER HOBGOOD

BERKLEY SMITH .............. COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN ........... ASHLEY VAUGHAN

PHENIX MIDDLETON CHOCTAW KAMRYN SWEET

TE’YONA SMITH .............................. YUKON ....................................... JOY BJERK

MARLEY OSENBAUGH ........ EDMOND SANTA FE ............... MEGAN MOLINSKY

FAITH LINDSEY MUSTANG CAITLIN WALKER

KYNSLI HYDE ............................ WASHINGTON ...................... SHEILA LEFORCE

ISRAEL THOMPSON ....................... NOBLE .......................... BROOKLYN WONG

As a membership benefit, coverage is provided by the Commercial General Liability Policy issued to the National Organization of Coaches Association Directors. This policy will provide general liability coverage to the Oklahoma Coaches Association and its members.

HDI Global Specialty (A Rated)

$1,000,000 Each Occurrence

$2,000,000 General Aggregate (per Member)

$1,000,000 Products/Completed Operations

$1,000,000 Personal & Advertising Injury

$ 300,000 Fire Damage

$ 50,000 Sexual Abuse (per Member) Excluded Medical Payments

 Educator Professional Liability

 Participant Legal Liability for insured members

 Liability assumed under insured written contract

 Defense Cost outside limits

 The use of automobiles, buses, watercraft and aircraft

 Property of others in the care, custody, and control of the insured.

 This insurance does not apply to members that coach at an AllStar game that is not approved by your state coaches association.

 This insurance does not apply to any loss, cost or expense arising out of infectious or communicable disease.

Today, most Coaches are involved in some type of sports camp. Please note that our General Liability Program follows insured members while working at camps and/or conducting their own personal camp.

In addition, Participant/Accident Coverage is required for coaches and/or participants. Should an accident occur during a camp, clinic or event, this secondary coverage helps offset the loss suffered by families affected by such accidents.

As a member benefit of your state coaches association, all members in good standing have a $1,000,000 per occurrence General Liability policy limit that provides coverage for their coaching activities. In order to protect the General Liability policy from potential claims, the insurance company has mandated that all coaches must obtain signed waivers and provide Participant/Accident insurance for their participants.

In order to obtain a certificate of insurance showing proof of insurance or naming an additional insured, the following must be in place:

 Waivers: Signed waivers showing indemnification language  Participant/Accident Insurance: You must have Participant/Accident coverage in place for all participants attending sports camps.

This is an

overview for summary purposes only; for complete policy terms and conditions please refer to the NOCAD Master Policy.

Who is covered?

• Member scholastic school coaches.

What is covered?

• Claims made by negligent acts, accidentally committed resulting in bodily injury, personal and advertising injury or property damage to others.

When are you covered?

• During your coaching activities and in the classroom.

What are the limits of liability?

• 1M per occurrence.

• 2M general aggregate per coach.

Additional policy coverages

• Participant Legal Liability.

• Defense costs outside of the limits of liability.

Exclusions

• The transportation of athletes.

• All Star games that are not approved by your state coaches association.

• The loss, cost or expense arising out of infectious or communicable disease.

• Assault & Battery

CAMP INSURANCE COVERAGE

Participant/Accident coverage is required for all participants attending camps.

What is Participant/Accident coverage and why is it required?

• Secondary medical insurance with a $25,000 limit.

• The policy becomes primary should the injured party not have Primary Medical insurance.

• Pays out-of-pocket expenses such as co-pays and deductibles.

• Protects coaches and their schools from potential liability claims.

What is the premium for Participant/Accident camp coverage?

• $300 minimum premium.

• Coaches also have the option of adding multiple camps.

Certificates of Insurance

• Most schools today require a certificate of insurance from coaches using school facilities. Certificates of insurance can be issued showing proof of insurance or naming an additional insured.

For more information: Visit www.loomislapann.com and click on camps. Contact us at: 518-792-6561 or sports@loomislapann.com

CORPORATE SPONSOR

Mailbag

Dear OCA,

Thank you so very much for the beautiful plant for my mom’s service. It was very thoughtful of you all.

Jamie, Madison, Hadley & Carey

Jamie Carey

Jim Ferguson

SNU Leadership: BrayDoyle’s Tim Whaley

Bray-Doyle High School basketball coach Tim Whaley has an interesting path to the sideline for Donkeys. From growing up in Oklahoma to spending time in Texas and now taking over as head coach of the boys basketball team, Whaley found exactly what his career needed in the Leadership Program at Southern Nazarene University.

By Ryan Stone

SNU Leadership: BrayDoyle’s Tim Whaley

“I grew up in Marlow, Oklahoma and graduated from Marlow High School in 1983. I attended East Central University in Ada, graduating in 1987. I attended graduate school at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas and graduated in 1994,” said Whaley. “Education is a second career for me. I spent the first 20 years working in social services administration and mental health care administration. I started my education/coaching career at Fort Worth ISD in 2008. I coached at South Hills High School and Riverside Middle School for five years before returning to my home state of Oklahoma.”

Wyrick said. “For

responsibilities/ assignments. I also appreciated the cohort design and working as a ‘student-group’ for the duration of the program,” said Whaley. “The program is going

SNU

“The

Making the decision to attend SNU’s Leadership Program was an easy one for Whaley.

Before SNU she went to Putnam City High School where she won the State Championship in shotput and played softball. Her ties to Northwest Oklahoma City have kept her close through college and she now teaches at Putnam City.

said Whaley.

Stevens has big plans after she completes the leadership program.

The U.S. History, Psychology and Economics teacher also coaches cross-country and track and field before and after basketball season.

and we talk all the time.”

available all across Oklahoma by Southern Nazarene University, a campaign that Wyrick applauds for having the perfect game plan for success.

to qualify graduates to sit for the Principal and Superintendent certification exam, which is a huge advantage. I knew that Southern Nazarene University was a great school. But since I have started the program, it is clear that the University and Faculty are truly committed to the success of their students. They have a very good system and it is seamless and comprehensive. I could not have made a better choice for my academic advancement in Educational Leadership!”

“I love coaching and teaching and that is where I belong for now. But within the next few years, I hope to have opportunities to shift towards a leadership position,” said Whaley.

His passion for education and coaching may come from his early mentors.

Making the decision to attend SNU’s Leadership Program was an easy one for Whaley.

“My schedule as a coach in three sport seasons was a tremendous barrier to going back to school. The flexibility of being able to attend on Wednesday nights was the most important factor in choosing SNU! Wednesday nights are almost always freed from coaching

As a coach and educator, Whaley enjoys seeing his students and his athletes succeed in the classroom and on the court.

Your Sports Printer

In fact, Stevens now holds the women’s state record for the United States Powerlifters Association after squatting 455 pounds, deadlifting 435 and benching 215.

“I plan on going the administration route after graduation, I haven’t decided when, but right now I plan on staying in the classroom and helping in the building. I do want to be a vice principal at some point and possibly a principal,” said Stevens.

need of every coach and or teacher,” said Wyrick. “The authenticity of this program is proven. SNU recognized a need to produce quality educational leadership in Oklahoma and they’re definitely producing winners.”

“I love the people I work with and the kids. I enjoy working with teachers I learned from and coaches I played for. Now I get to help shape our youth

“I enjoy seeing young people gain confidence and achieve things that previously seemed out of reach. I feel that I have made a positive impact when I motivate students to work hard and believing in themselves. The opportunity to impress upon them the importance of those two traits is where my enjoyment comes from,”

“During my high school days, I was very fortunate to have had three coaches and a Superintendent who all made it into the Oklahoma Coaches Hall of Fame: Scott Ousley, Darvis Cole, Bob Patterson and Ron Newby. All of these men had a positive impact on my life, but Coach Newby made a tremendous impact on me and how I conduct myself as a teacher/ coach,” said Whaley.

An 18-month program, the educational leadership program meets the demands of coaches like Wyrick with classes offered regionally across the state creating a geographic convenience.

“I go to class in McAlester every Wednesday night which is about the only day we don’t have a game or practice,” Wyrick stated. “I like the classroom over the online learning because I believe you benefit so much and learn better when you take part in the small group discussions led by the instructor that cares for me like I care for my players.”

clock can be the difference of winning the game. With the help of Southern Nazarene University’s Masters of Arts in Educational Leadership program, Taylor Matlock of Colbert High School continues to find himself on the winning side of the scoreboard.

University prior to entering education and the challenging demands of coaching at Colbert. scheduled almost everyday but Wednesday.”

“I knew right away it was a perfect match for me.”

school as well at home with his wife, Miranda who is also a teacher. the weekend.”

Plainly speaking, the Master of Educational Leadership offered by Southern Nazarene University continues to pay it forward by opening doors to a world of opportunities.

ing a career in education crediting the SNU instructors for the individual care and understanding. “The face to face experience with the instructor provides the extra help I want,” said Matlock. “The family atmosphere and networking opportunities to share experiences with the others in the class far outweighs the online-only classes.”

Just like the experiences of Taylor Matlock of Colbert, the Master’s of Educational Leadership program offered by Southern Nazarene University continues to produce winning game plans by opening doors to a world of opportunities.

Taylor Matlock with wife Miranda.

Jackie Stevens

Masters Program.