Former Millwood, OSU player Anthony Andrews named Douglass basketball coach

Anthony Andrews took a long, winding road to get from Millwood to Douglass, but the 49-year-old is excited to be the Trojans’ new boys basketball coach.

Andrews’ hire was approved by the Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education on Monday night, officially filling the void of Terry Long, who left in May to become the head coach at Mustang.

“This is a tremendous opportunity,” said Andrews, who spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach at Newcastle. “I don’t know what my biggest challenge will be, other than continuing the tradition. Terry Long built a great program, and I look forward to getting going at Douglass.”

Andrews takes over a Trojan squad led by senior-to-be Stephen Clark, The Oklahoman’s Super 5 Player of the Year last season. Clark has led Douglass to state championships in each of his first three seasons.

Of course, state titles are a common expectation for Andrews. He won four as a player at Millwood under coach Varryl Franklin from 1978-81.

He started his college career at Central Oklahoma under coach Eddie Evans, the father of current UCO coach Terry Evans. But after Eddie Evans was let go, Andrews decided to leave as well, ultimately finishing his playing career with two seasons at Oklahoma State. There, he briefly teamed with older brother Lorenza Andrews.

Anthony Andrews turned down invitations to two NBA camps and went to work for Conoco, working in Billings, Mont., Houston and Chattanooga, Tenn.

He moved back to Oklahoma three years ago, and spent a year helping the basketball programs at Millwood and in the OKCPS district.

Previously, he was the head coach at the Girls Preparatory School in Chattanooga, and he coached travel teams on the AAU circuit as well.

Andrews also has a family connection to Douglass. Both of his parents attended the school, and his father was on the Trojans’ 1949 team that won a state championship prior to being admitted to the OSSAA.

“Douglass has a great tradition, and I want it to be a perennial power, not just in the state, but in this part of the country,” Andrews said. “Terry had already started that, traveling out of state, and that’s something we want to continue. I’d like to get this program on the national map and stay there.”