OU hires Baranczyk to lead women’s hoops program

Baranczyk was Drake’s head coach for last nine seasons

Jennie Baranczyk Drake head coach Jennie Baranczyk directs her team during a first-round game against Missouri in the NCAA women's college basketball tournament, Friday, March 22, 2019, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) (Charlie Neibergall/AP)

By Nathan Thompson, FOX23 Sports

The Sooners have a new women’s head basketball coach. The school announced Saturday that Jennie Baranczyk is taking over for Sherri Coale, who retired last month after 25 seasons as OU head coach. Baranczyk is the ninth head coach in Oklahoma women’s basketball history.

Baranczyk was Drake’s head coach the last nine seasons. She lead the Bulldogs to six consecutive 20-win seasons and to three NCAA tournament berths. A two-time Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year, Baranczyk’s .667 winning percentage ranks fifth in the league’s history.

“It is an honor and a privilege to be named the next head coach for the University of Oklahoma’s women’s basketball program and follow the highly successful and much-admired Sherri Coale,” said Baranczyk. “My coaching philosophy is based upon the most powerful human emotion to me and that is love. The players who put on this jersey must love the game, love to compete and love OU.

“We are going to compete at the highest level on the court and in the classroom. We will play hard, play together and be fun to watch. I’m looking forward to being at Oklahoma where there are amazing people and where we can – and will – compete for championships.”

Drake led the nation in assists per game this season (20.4) and ranked sixth in the country in field goal percentage (48.1%), 22nd in scoring offense (76.4 ppg), and 24th in 3-point field goal percentage (36.4%). The Bulldogs finished 18-12 overall and in second place in league play with a 13-5 record.

“This is a truly exciting day for our university and athletics department, as we welcome Jennie Baranczyk as our new head women’s basketball coach,” said OU athletic director Joe Castiglione. “Her track record of overseeing creative and effective offenses, and producing high win totals, conference championships and postseason appearances during her time at Drake certainly appealed to our search committee as it evaluated the very competitive candidate pool. But her mastery of the head coaching role extends far beyond the court, and it’s clear that her personal and professional values align with ours.

“Jennie prioritizes the overall well-being of everyone in her program, is passionate about empowering her student-athletes and recognizes that a program is only as good as its people. She is family-oriented and community-minded, both of which will help her generate enthusiasm among our fans and as she works to return our program to Big 12 and national prominence. We are thrilled that she and her husband Scott and kids Eli, Jordi and Hope have joined the OU family, and we are so eager for their arrival in Norman.”

Formerly Jennie Lillis, Baranczyk spent her collegiate career at the University of Iowa. She was a three-time All-Big Ten Conference selection, earning first-team honors as a junior (2003) and second-team recognition as a sophomore (2002) and senior (2004). She helped lead the Hawkeyes to three NCAA Tournament berths as well as the 2001 Big Ten Tournament title.

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