Sports greats
Former OSU standout Bryant Reeves was among the inductees into the 2017 Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.
David James finally got his desk cleaned out. His locker? That’s another story. Even though the man who coached wrestling at Central Oklahoma for 34 years hasn’t been on the job for 10 months, that locker still contains some of his gear. Shoes. Shorts.
“And that’s great,” said the coach who replaced him. “I’m glad.” So is James. On Wednesday, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame announced that James and six others would be inducted later this year. He will go into the hall with Bryant Reeves and Jason White, Bill Greason and Bill Krisher, Doug Blubaugh and Jeff Bennett. For James, it was not only an unexpected honor but also the latest chapter in an emotional year.
In April, UCO unceremoniously cut him loose, then in May, the school announced that former wrestler and good friend Todd Steidley would be taking over the program. In October, practices began without the coach everyone knew as DJ. In November came the first duals — and the first wins.
The wins didn’t stop either. With great depth and some highly-ranked hammers at the two highest weights, the team won every dual, an undefeated 18-0 season, a program best.
And DJ was there to see it.
He went to every home dual, watched most of the away duals on the computer and attended practice several times a week.
“It’s very important to me,” Steidley said of DJ’s involvement. “We want him to always feel welcome. We want his input. We want to take advantage of his knowledge and his expertise.
“I want DJ to be a part of this program.”
He wants to be a part, too.
For starters, DJ and Steidley have been close friends for decades. DJ was even the best man in Steidley’s wedding. He didn’t want to impose. He didn’t want to overshadow. But DJ provided help throughout Steidley’s coaching career and mentored him during stints at high schools in Bristow, Ponca City and Claremore; why would he suddenly turn his back when Steidley was making the jump to college coaching?
Then, there were the wrestlers.
Many of the starters on this team were DJ’s guys, wrestlers who were redshirting a year ago, youngsters who were expected to be really good this season.
And they are really good.
“They’ve had an outstanding year,” DJ said. “It’s really special.”
He’s equally enthusiastic about Steidley’s first season as head coach.
“It’s been great,” he said. “He’s done awesome.”
Still, watching the season unfold has been as delightful as it’s been difficult, as exhilarating as it’s been excruciating.
“I’m supportive of the program and Todd and the coaches and the wrestlers,” DJ said. “But it’s been an adjustment. You do something for so long ... “He sighed. “You have thoughts.” But David James has never been ugly about anything. He never asked how the program that he built into a powerhouse could be taken away from him. He never complained that he’d done everything right only to be wronged by the school. He handled the situation with the class and the grace that all of us hope we would show but many of us know we would not.
“It’s been as good a transition as it could be thanks to him,” Steidley said. “He’s just been there as a guide and mentor all season long, and that’s just very valuable.
“I don’t know that there would’ve been a division, but he has made sure that he has shown support to the program.”
DJ wants nothing but the best for the team as it heads to the NCAA Division II regionals this weekend. He wants every wrestler to qualify for nationals and hopes another national title in the offing.
No one will cheer louder.
But Tuesday, David James’ former wrestlers and assistants cheered him. Several came to the luncheon announcing the hall of fame class, and many more are expected at the formal induction in August.
“He has impacted and mentored so many coaches in the state of Oklahoma,” Steidley said. “High school coaches. Junior high coaches. Guys coaching at the little-league level. He’s had a huge impact on wrestling the state of Oklahoma, maybe more than anybody.
“I know I wouldn’t have gone into coaching without his influence.”
So, Steidley is more than happy to let DJ keep his locker at UCO.
The new coach loves seeing the old coach come in to lift weights or ride the stationary bike or run on the treadmill. And if DJ hangs around for practice, all the better.
“We want him as involved as he wants to be,” Steidley said.
The good news is, David James wants the same.