OSUAggie
1/9/2007, 06:37 PM
http://www.newsok.com/article/2996853/?template=home/main
Coker ‘overwhelming favorite' for TU job
By Bob Hersom
Staff Writer
Larry Coker's college coaching career began in Tulsa, and he may very well retire there as well.
Coker, 58, is the "overwhelming favorite,” according to sources, to become the next football coach at the University of Tulsa, where his college coaching career began in 1979.
The former University of Miami coach would succeed Steve Kragthorpe, 41, who was named head coach at the University of Louisville on Tuesday. Kragthorpe was 29-22 in four years at TU, which had 11 straight losing seasons before he arrived.
Kragthorpe told his Tulsa team Tuesday morning that he would accept the Louisville job. A press conference was called for 3:15 p.m. Tuesday in Louisville. Kragthorpe reportedly will sign a five-year contract, for $1.1 million annually, at UL. His base salary at Tulsa was about $500,000 last season.
In Tulsa, Coker may be hired this week, sources said. He would take a large pay cut, but money would not seem to be a big issue with Coker. He reportedly was paid $1.8 million last season, plus $2.4 million to $2.9 million in a buyout of his contract.
Probably of most significance to Coker if he returned to Tulsa, he would would be back in the state where he was born and raised. He lived the first 44 years of his life in Oklahoma. Dianna Coker, his wife of 38 years, is from Okmulgee.
Coker was fired as the Miami coach at the end of the 2006 season, even though he had a 60-15 record in six years. His Hurricanes were 4-2 in bowl games and they won the national title in 2001, his first season as a head coach.
Coker won his first 24 games — the first major college head coach to do that since Walter Camp in 1888-89.
Only four college coaches have won more games than Coker since 2001: Mack Brown, Texas; Bob Stoops, Oklahoma; Pete Carroll, USC; and Jim Tressel, Ohio State.
Coker has been rumored for the Tulsa job most of this season. Kragthorpe's job was secure but he was among the nation's "hottest” young coaches, invariably bound for a job above TU's mid-major status.
Meanwhile in Miami, Coker was having problems with a program that has seemed to always have internal problems, even when the 'Canes were winning national titles. Coker was fired a few days before Miami finished its 7-6 season.
So, many suggested, at least in Oklahoma, why not swap coaches? The up-and-coming Kragthorpe goes to Miami and the laid-back Coker returns to Tulsa and his home state.
Coker has deep roots in Oklahoma, and he personifies the state's reputation for down-home friendliness. His Oklahoma roots are multiple:
• He was born in Weleetka on June 23, 1948, and moved to Okemah when he was 3.
• He played defensive back and earned bachelor's (1970) and master's (1973) degrees at Northeastern State in Tahlequah.
• He coached at Fairfax and Claremore high schools from 1971-78.
• He was an assistant coach at all three major colleges in the state: Tulsa from 1979-82; Oklahoma State from 1983-89; and Oklahoma from 1990-92.
• He lived in Oklahoma from 1948 to 1992, when Gary Gibbs fired him as OU's offensive coordinator.
Coker ‘overwhelming favorite' for TU job
By Bob Hersom
Staff Writer
Larry Coker's college coaching career began in Tulsa, and he may very well retire there as well.
Coker, 58, is the "overwhelming favorite,” according to sources, to become the next football coach at the University of Tulsa, where his college coaching career began in 1979.
The former University of Miami coach would succeed Steve Kragthorpe, 41, who was named head coach at the University of Louisville on Tuesday. Kragthorpe was 29-22 in four years at TU, which had 11 straight losing seasons before he arrived.
Kragthorpe told his Tulsa team Tuesday morning that he would accept the Louisville job. A press conference was called for 3:15 p.m. Tuesday in Louisville. Kragthorpe reportedly will sign a five-year contract, for $1.1 million annually, at UL. His base salary at Tulsa was about $500,000 last season.
In Tulsa, Coker may be hired this week, sources said. He would take a large pay cut, but money would not seem to be a big issue with Coker. He reportedly was paid $1.8 million last season, plus $2.4 million to $2.9 million in a buyout of his contract.
Probably of most significance to Coker if he returned to Tulsa, he would would be back in the state where he was born and raised. He lived the first 44 years of his life in Oklahoma. Dianna Coker, his wife of 38 years, is from Okmulgee.
Coker was fired as the Miami coach at the end of the 2006 season, even though he had a 60-15 record in six years. His Hurricanes were 4-2 in bowl games and they won the national title in 2001, his first season as a head coach.
Coker won his first 24 games — the first major college head coach to do that since Walter Camp in 1888-89.
Only four college coaches have won more games than Coker since 2001: Mack Brown, Texas; Bob Stoops, Oklahoma; Pete Carroll, USC; and Jim Tressel, Ohio State.
Coker has been rumored for the Tulsa job most of this season. Kragthorpe's job was secure but he was among the nation's "hottest” young coaches, invariably bound for a job above TU's mid-major status.
Meanwhile in Miami, Coker was having problems with a program that has seemed to always have internal problems, even when the 'Canes were winning national titles. Coker was fired a few days before Miami finished its 7-6 season.
So, many suggested, at least in Oklahoma, why not swap coaches? The up-and-coming Kragthorpe goes to Miami and the laid-back Coker returns to Tulsa and his home state.
Coker has deep roots in Oklahoma, and he personifies the state's reputation for down-home friendliness. His Oklahoma roots are multiple:
• He was born in Weleetka on June 23, 1948, and moved to Okemah when he was 3.
• He played defensive back and earned bachelor's (1970) and master's (1973) degrees at Northeastern State in Tahlequah.
• He coached at Fairfax and Claremore high schools from 1971-78.
• He was an assistant coach at all three major colleges in the state: Tulsa from 1979-82; Oklahoma State from 1983-89; and Oklahoma from 1990-92.
• He lived in Oklahoma from 1948 to 1992, when Gary Gibbs fired him as OU's offensive coordinator.