Coker to Tulsa

[ponysooner]

The Oklahoman is saying that Coker is the frontrunner for the Tulsa job.

http://www.newsok.com/article/2996853/? ... =home/main

[ponydawg]

Have to register to read, so I don't know what it said.

But it will be initeresting to see how he does there if it goes thru.
If you remember when Bennett was on the ropes coker's name came up
on here for his replacement - but was shot down saying he was to old to get the program where it needs to be.

[ponysooner]

Here is the story if you couldn't see it from the link...

Larry Coker's college coaching career began in Tulsa, and he may very well retire there as well.

Coker, 58, is the "overwhelming favorite,” according to sources, to become the next football coach at the University of Tulsa, where his college coaching career began in 1979.

The former University of Miami coach would succeed Steve Kragthorpe, 41, who was named head coach at the University of Louisville on Tuesday. Kragthorpe was 29-22 in four years at TU, which had 11 straight losing seasons before he arrived.

Kragthorpe told his Tulsa team Tuesday morning that he would accept the Louisville job. A press conference was called for 3:15 p.m. Tuesday in Louisville. Kragthorpe reportedly will sign a five-year contract, for $1.1 million annually, at UL. His base salary at Tulsa was about $500,000 last season.

In Tulsa, Coker may be hired this week, sources said. He would take a large pay cut, but money would not seem to be a big issue with Coker. He reportedly was paid $1.8 million last season, plus $2.4 million to $2.9 million in a buyout of his contract.

Probably of most significance to Coker if he returned to Tulsa, he would would be back in the state where he was born and raised. He lived the first 44 years of his life in Oklahoma. Dianna Coker, his wife of 38 years, is from Okmulgee.

Coker was fired as the Miami coach at the end of the 2006 season, even though he had a 60-15 record in six years. His Hurricanes were 4-2 in bowl games and they won the national title in 2001, his first season as a head coach.

Coker won his first 24 games — the first major college head coach to do that since Walter Camp in 1888-89.

Only four college coaches have won more games than Coker since 2001: Mack Brown, Texas; Bob Stoops, Oklahoma; Pete Carroll, USC; and Jim Tressel, Ohio State.

Coker has been rumored for the Tulsa job most of this season. Kragthorpe's job was secure but he was among the nation's "hottest” young coaches, invariably bound for a job above TU's mid-major status.

Meanwhile in Miami, Coker was having problems with a program that has seemed to always have internal problems, even when the 'Canes were winning national titles. Coker was fired a few days before Miami finished its 7-6 season.

So, many suggested, at least in Oklahoma, why not swap coaches? The up-and-coming Kragthorpe goes to Miami and the laid-back Coker returns to Tulsa and his home state.

Coker has deep roots in Oklahoma, and he personifies the state's reputation for down-home friendliness. His Oklahoma roots are multiple:

• He was born in Weleetka on June 23, 1948, and moved to Okemah when he was 3.

• He played defensive back and earned bachelor's (1970) and master's (1973) degrees at Northeastern State in Tahlequah.

• He coached at Fairfax and Claremore high schools from 1971-78.

• He was an assistant coach at all three major colleges in the state: Tulsa from 1979-82; Oklahoma State from 1983-89; and Oklahoma from 1990-92.

• He lived in Oklahoma from 1948 to 1992, when Gary Gibbs fired him as OU's offensive coordinator

[J.T.supporta]

Not a good sign for SMU if coker goes to Tulsa. Im sure he'll have that program back to normal in no time.

[Stallion]

I'd be more concerned if they signed Glen Mason or Gary Gibbs. Miami sells itself-Tulsa doesn't.

[mustangnation]

What leads you to believe that he can coach? All he has shown is that he can win with a talent loaded roster from Butch Davis. He was not able to keep up the same recruiting momentum that Davis had at one of the most high profiled schools in the country. He also had a .500 record with a team made mostly of his recruits. I would not be so quick to say that this is the end of the world for SMU.

[EastStang]

He is a name coach. And he does have some strong ties to Oklahoma. Could he recruit Texas like Krag and Graham,? Probably not. That is more of what I would worry about. If we can get quality players that might have gone to Tulsa to go to SMU, that's what matters. If you don't have the horses, you can't win the chariot race.

[MustangIcon]

To me I think they'd be best promoting an assistant and keeping the momentum rolling from their recent success (if they have someone worthy of course).

On Coker, his recruiting at Miami continued to be fantastic in his tenure there although I am not sure whether that is due to his program prestige, staff, etc etc. Might have had nothing to do with Coker himself. I think his biggest problem at the U was controlling and utilizing the talent he had.

*Note* Miami has had a top 10 recruiting class each of the past 5 seasons except this past season, this season's true freshman, which was 14 or something.

[me@smu]

Coker to Tulsa would be trouble for SMU. He is a big name that every recruit has at least heard of. We aren't competing with them for hte 5 star super recruits which is what Coker couldn't bring in...but a 3 star would probably be impressed with his name and championship rings enough to give them the nod over us.

[Stallion]

Coker didn't make Miami-Miami made Coker.

[SMU Football Blog]

I love this hire . . . as an SMU fan. I have no interest in Coker.

This hire isn't being made by the same AD that hired Kragthorpe or Wojcik. If it was, I would be worried. That AD had a track record. This a new guy that came from Ball State. To my knowledge, the guy hasn't hired anyone or done anything of note.

[J.T.supporta]

who cares if Miami made coker. He still is a national championship coach that will get top recruits to Tulsa.

He can win big games and he can lose big games. He is a proven coach no matter what some might say.

Big name coach with a title under his belt. Started 23-1 in his first 2 years at the U, sure he stumbled later but he can win games.

[mr. pony]

Goe-nna set my watch back to it ....

[expony18]

Coker didn't make Miami-Miami made Coker.

kind of like the rap lyrics: "i don't make money, man; money make me..."

[mrydel]

Coker once told me that he remembered more football than I had forgotten.