STILLWATER -- Sean Sutton is out as the Oklahoma State basketball coach, the school announced with a press release Tuesday. A press conference is scheduled for 4:45 p.m. Tuesday.
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OSU athletic director Mike Holder said he and Sutton mutually agreed on a new direction for the Cowboy program.
"After discussions with Sean, and after examining the status of our program, Sean and I both concluded that it is in the best interest of both the OSU men's basketball program and Sean to go a different direction at this time," Holder said.
Holder and Sutton met Monday to discuss the status of the program.
“This was an extremely difficult decision, and this is a sad day for me personally and this university," Holder said. "We cannot overlook the contributions Sean has made to OSU as a player, assistant coach and head coach. OSU is deeply appreciative and grateful to Sean as well as his father Eddie, who together revived OSU basketball and made the program a consistent contender for conference, tournament and national championships."
Sean Sutton came to OSU in 1990 as a transfer and spent two seasons as his father's point guard. OSU reached the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 both years.
After a year as an assistant coach at Mississippi, Sean Sutton returned to his father's staff and spent 121/2 seasons as an assistant before taking over for his father.
“Sean played a major role in the ascension of OSU basketball into the top tier of the nation,” said OSU president Burns Hargis. “While this was indeed a tough decision for everyone, we all agree that it is the right decision for the future of the program and for Sean.
"I appreciate the professional way in which Sean and Mike addressed the situation and I am pleased they arrived at a mutual decision on how we should move forward. We appreciate Sean’s professionalism and I know everyone joins me in wishing him only the best in the future."
Sutton was 39-29 in two seasons as head coach, not counting a 4-6 record in February and March 2006 after Eddie took a leave of absence following a drunk-driving incident.
“I want the fans and my OSU family to know how much I have appreciated their support over the last 17 years," Sean Sutton said. "It has been a great experience and I have loved every minute of my time here at OSU. I also want to thank our players, coaches and entire staff for all their hard work and support.
"My family and I will always have fond memories of OSU and I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of this great program and this great university.”
Lou Watkins, chair of the OSU/A&M board of regents, said, "While we respect the decision, we nevertheless admire the work of Sean and Eddie to restore OSU basketball to national prominence. We know this is a difficult time for Sean and for OSU, but we are confident under the leadership of our president and VP of athletics (Holder), OSU will find the right person to lead our program. In the meantime, we wish Sean only the very best in the future.”
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I guess now that that Sean is gone T. Boone and his lackey Holder can raise ticket prices for the basketball games. Holder is as AD is a joke. They fired the wrong person. Someone said he is a good businessw man. Well, he needs to find a good business to run and leave OSU athletics alone.
Basketball is not nearly so hard to build as football. Look at what Gillespie did at Texas AM in two years. Osu can be built back quickly with the right hire. Hate it that Sean couldn't have had success. My guess is that he will take his $Million plus payout, get another head coaching job and have a decent career. Good luck Sean!
Bad move, even if a better coach is hired and things turn around--bad move. Points out one thing though, next year Gundy produces or he's out like a light.
There actually is quite a lot of difference between Mike Gundy's results and Sean Sutton's. The basketball program has been to the Final Four Twice, the Elite Eight, and several Sweet Sixteens. Sean inherited this program and its sold-out arena. This level of success deep into NCAA tournaments would compare to a football program playing in numerous BCS Bowl games. Now the basketball team is not achieving anywhere near that level. Mike took over a program that has never been to a BCS game and has had just a few good years here and there. Anything he does is improvement. Now we say we're unhappy and frustrated with close losses to Texas and Texas A&M. It wasn't long ago that we wouldn't even think of competing with them. Mike's doing a good job. He didn't inherit a BCS program, Sean did.
I can understand maybe splitting ways but maybe after one more year. Honestly I don't think it would have changed much tho. However, I don't understand how they can throw all this money into the football program and continue to keep Gundy...? His little episode was very negative for the school and his teams continue to be just "ok". There have been several good coaches that it took them 3-5 years to really build up a program. But honestly, bball is known at OSU, football, not so much. Yet they are wasting more money and time on football, dreaming that it will be the same caliber as OU. Consitrate on your bball program and throw a little cash at it too... give your coach a chance to drive some change.
Since some are making this about Bedlam, the last 20 years, OU has more wins, series lead, more conference titles, and just as many final fours (2). OSU b-ball isn't anything special right now. The arena is great and the fans can be rowdy, but the new coach must deal with an NBA type owner and GM with curious expectations. If they offer the job to a big time coach, you think he might talk to Eddie Sutton before taking the plunge? Uh, oh!
The worst thing Holder could do now is to go out and hire some piddlydink coach in an intense 24 hour search. I won't be surprised if that's what happens. It's time to fork out the bucks, which O-State has, to get a championship caliber coach.
Mike K. Wasn't he in Monsters Inc.? Did not know he was coaching..... You people are in a dark place. No top flight coach is coming to lose at OSU. We are going to have to get a young, up and coming coach. Time will tell.... But money is not everything to great coaches (they already make tons).....
I'm an OU grad too and this firing is crazy. How can you fire Sutton and keep Gundy? I always respected his dad, but he didn't leave the program in good shape. Sean had a rebuilding on his hands and he gets shot after two years? Bad firing. Too bad.
Lildab. You're smokin crack... And this isn't to slam OSU fans or the bball team, but you are seriously messed up. You said, "osu basketball is alot bigger and better than ou year in and out." Get some facts before you shoot your mouth off. I never said OU BBall was better than OSU but it damn sure is at least on the same level. Take the same time you're using to write the comments and look up the records and final four appearances, BUD!!!
According to a Mark Rogers and Craig Humpreys conversation, and later confirmed by a Berry Tramel e-mail, OSU has finished ahead of OU 1 time since the formation of the Big 12. Saxon quotes stats that say it isn't so. OU leads the all time series. The OU job is probably as good as OSU's don't you think?
L. I am a huge OU fan and dont really care about osu sports . But osu basketball is alot bigger and better than ou year in and out. If you cant see that you are drinking something other than red kool-aid
Now if they will gas Mike Gundy, maybe OSU fans can finally find someone worth all of Picken's money. Probably not. Afterall, it's still OSU....
Oh well. At least now they won't have to hire a kid to follow the coach around, mopping up sweat.
L, I'm a Sooner who doesn't mind seeing OSU succeed in all things execpt beating OU. You'll see nothing emotional out of me on these posts. It's a game to all except who's business it is.
Im sure sean is a nice guy fair coach and all. I didnt think osu should of had him "inherit" the job without seaching for the best candidate at the time. The osu job is a higher stepup than ou so settle down ou nuts. Please find and hire the best there is available!
the field isn't named after snelly's dad, and he didn't spend the past 20 years at the university, small difference. picken's money is turning osu into the rich snobby kid on the block.
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Oh well. At least now they won't have to hire a kid to follow the coach around, mopping up sweat.
Sean is still a boy.