Sockey returning to Poteau to coach boys hoops

Ronnie Sockey was hired as the new Poteau basketball coach on Monday as it was approved by the Poteau Public Schools Board of Education.

“I knew if I ever came back, it’d be to Poteau.

I’m excited to be back. I’m excited to be back in Poteau,” Sockey said. “Being back in basketball, they way it is, we want to compete in the county tournament, in regionals, in area and get to state.”

Sockey has spent the past nine years coaching softball in Greenwood,

Ark. He was previously the Poteau baseball head coach, winning 191 games in 10 years as head coach. Sockey was an assistant baseball coach for three years before that.

“Coach [Greg Werner] and [Poteau High School Principal] Joe Ballard called me before the softball season and said they might have something I’d want,” Sockey said.

Sockey said Poteau should be contending in the LeFlore County Basketball Tournament semifinals and finals. In 2020, the Pirates made the LCT semifinal before finishing fourth.

Sockey replaces Brandon Wood, who coached Poteau for two years. The Pirates went 2-18 in 202122.

Poteau only graduates two players from this season’s team.

Sockey noted that Poteau has good freshmen and sophomores and incoming freshmen.

“They need someone to get them to work, push them and have someone who cares about them,” he said, expressing that he will be committed to staying with the program.*