Edmond North loses its basketball coach
Edmond North coach Terry Evans announced his resignation at Edmond North on Wednesday.
Evans, who helped lead Edmond North to its first-ever boys basketball state title last season, is expected to be named the head coach at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in the coming days.
“Thanks everyone at Edmond North for giving me this opportunity,” Evans said. “To coach my son and win the first ever state championship in Edmond North was a great accomplishment. I am looking forward to the opportunity at Southwestern.”
Evans was hired at Edmond North in July of 2015 after spending 13 seasons at UCO, becoming the school’s all-time winningest coach with eight 20-win seasons and seven NCAA Division II national tournament appearances, while compiling a 263-124 record.
He also spent time on Division I coaching staffs at TCU and Oklahoma, where he played his college career.
Mike Nunley, athletic director for Edmond schools, said Evans did an incredible job for Edmond North.
“He developed a culture for wanting to win state championships,” Nunley said. “I think his passion and love is coaching basketball and I think for him, he wants to do that at the collegiate level.”
Nunley said they will post the Edmond North opening sometime this week and start taking applications. He hopes to have a hire made by May.
Purcell again looking for new football coach
Purcell is back at square one.
A little more than a month after naming Alva athletic director Steve Gale its new football coach, Purcell is searching for his replacement.
Gale was forced to remain in Alva due to unforeseen circumstances with his Alva home.
“It was a pretty big blow for a couple of days,” Purcell superintendent Jason Midkiff said. “It was a life deal that happened. He was just in a bind. It’s pretty unfortunate. He’s tore up. We hate it ourselves. It was not anything that any of us could have foreseen before.”
Midkiff has already started to look for a replacement. He said he will consider new candidates and candidates from the original search.
Gale, a member of Purcell’s hall of fame as a linebacker, was set to replace John Higbee, who left following the season to accept the same position at Clinton. The new coach will officially be Purcell’s sixth in seven years.
Blanchard’s Williams named Wrestler of the Year by OWCA
Zach Williams got the upset at the state tournament, now he’s reaping the rewards.
Williams, a senior from Blanchard, was named the Wrestler of the Year for all classes on Wednesday when the Oklahoma Wrestling Coaches Association released its annual award list.
Williams (120), who has signed with Central Missouri, defeated 3-time defending state champion Rhett Golowenski of Tuttle in the finals match to become a state champ.
Choctaw coach Benny Coleman was named the Class 6A coach of the year after his squad defeated Broken Arrow at dual state and then won the state tournament as well. Here is a look at the rest of the awards:
• Wrestler of the year: Zach Williams, Blanchard
• Junior High Coach of the Year: Michael Mitchell, Chickasha
Class 6A
• Wrestler of The Year: Jaryn Curry, Choctaw
• Coach of the Year: Benny Coleman, Choctaw
• Assistant Coach of the Year: Justin Glenn, Jenks
Class 5A
• Wrestler of the Year: Jerome Townsell, Edison Prep
• Head Coach: Jake Parker, Skiatook
• Assistant Coach: Will Delk, Piedmont Class 4A
• Wrestler of the Year: Jacob Butler, Elgin
• Head Coach: Tanner Harris, Blanchard
• Assistant Coach: Nick Abbott, Blanchard
Class 3A
• Wrestler of the Year: Dan Baker, Sulphur
• Head Coach: Andy Howington, Marlow
• Assistant Coach: Keith Kizarr, Marlow