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Oklahoma Sooners
2025 Oklahoma Sooners baseball team
Founded1898
UniversityUniversity of Oklahoma
Athletic directorJoe Castiglione
Head coachSkip Johnson (7th season)
ConferenceSEC
LocationNorman, Oklahoma
Home stadiumL. Dale Mitchell Baseball Park
(Capacity: 3,180)
NicknameSooners
ColorsCrimson and cream[1]
   
NCAA Tournament champions
1951, 1994
College World Series runner-up
2022
College World Series appearances
1951, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1992, 1994, 1995, 2010, 2022
NCAA regional champions
1975, 1976, 1992, 1994, 1995, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2022
NCAA Tournament appearances
1947, 1951, 1955, 1956, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024
Conference tournament champions
Big Eight: 1977
Big 12: 1997, 2013, 2022
Regular season conference champions
Big Eight: 1931, 1933, 1935, 1936, 1939, 1940, 1946, 1947, 1951, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1986, 1992, 1995
Big 12: 2024

Oklahoma Sooners baseball is the NCAA Division I collegiate baseball team of the University of Oklahoma (OU) based in Norman, Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Baseball tradition is long and storied, with two national championships in 1951 and 1994, along with numerous All-Americans. Dale Mitchell, Bobby Jack, Jackson Todd, Glen Castle, and Keith Drumright are two-time All-Americans to have played for the Sooners. Their home field is L. Dale Mitchell Baseball Park, named after the aforementioned Dale Mitchell.

Prior to 2006, the Sooners hosted regionals at minor league parks in Oklahoma City, first All Sports Stadium and then the venue now known as Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Scheduling conflicts with Oklahoma City's Triple-A team, currently known as the Oklahoma City Dodgers, led OU to bid for future regionals at its on-campus stadium.

History

The early years

Unlike many programs, such as LSU and USC, Oklahoma did not lack consistency among the coaching ranks in the early to mid 1900s. Bennie Owen is credited as the first head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners baseball program. Owen's first season is listed as 1906 and his final season being 1922. Owen coached the Sooners for a total of 17 years, compiling an overall record of 142–102–4. In 1923 Bill Owen took over as head coach and remained in the position for 4 years. During his tenure the program had a .764 winning percentage with a record of 42–13. OU named Lawrence Haskell the third head coach in the programs history in 1927. He led the Sooners for 15 years, compiling an overall record of 176–74–2.[2]

Jack Baer era (1942-1967)

Jack Baer became the fourth head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners baseball program in 1942. In his 10th year as coach, Baer led the program to new heights, claiming the 1951 national championship in baseball for the first time in school history. The Sooners nearly missed out on that title opportunity. An ESPN story published as a backdrop for the Sooners' 2022 Men's College World Series (MCWS) finals appearance noted that legendary OU football coach Bud Wilkinson, also the school's athletic director, "didn't care much for baseball, telling the team they couldn't go to Omaha, even after qualifying." OU president George Lynn Cross intervened, but only provided a bus to transport the team to Omaha, providing insufficient money for hotels. The team left on the 500-mile (800 km) drive to Norman immediately after the title game, and no team members received championship rings until the 50th anniversary of the championship in 2001, by which time several members had died.[3]

Baer went on to coach the Sooners until 1967. During his 26-year tenure as coach, Baer amassed 281 victories, a .529 winning percentage, and still remains OU's longest tenured baseball coach.

Enos Semore era (1968-1989)

Enos Semore replaced Jack Baer in 1968. Semore became the 5th head coach in the program's history, and led the program through some of its most successful years. During his 22-year tenure as coach, Semore's teams averaged 38.5 victories a year, claiming 9 conference championships and 2 conference tournament titles. Under his direction, the Sooners claimed 4 straight Big Eight titles while also making 5 consecutive trips to the MCWS from 1972–1976. His 1976 squad set a school record that still stands today with 62 victories. The 851 victories he compiled while head coach of the Sooners still ranks first in the programs history. Semore compiled a record of 851–370–1 while at OU. Semore's career winning percentage of .697 ranks in the top 50 all-time in NCAA Division I history.[4]

Larry Cochell era (1991-2005)

Semore resigned just days before the start of the 1990 season for medical reasons. Assistant Stan Meek was named interim coach for the 1990 season, during which the Sooners finished 31–26 overall and failed to make the NCAA Division I baseball tournament for the first time since 1983.

To replace Meek, the Sooners traveled out west and hired Larry Cochell away from Cal State Fullerton. Cochell replaced legendary coach Augie Garrido at Fullerton when Garrido left for Illinois. During his three seasons at Fullerton, Cochell's teams went 109–68. Although Fullerton had long been considered a baseball powerhouse, OU offered Cochell a financial package that he could not turn down, and he became the seventh head coach in school history.

Cochell wasted no time bringing the team back into the national spotlight. In his first year, Cochell led the team to an overall record of 40–23 and a second-place finish in the Big Eight. The Sooners returned to the NCAA tournament, but were quickly eliminated in regional play, losing their second game to eventual national champion LSU. The following year, the Sooners tied for the Big Eight conference championship, and once again were awarded with a spot in the postseason. The Sooners fared much better winning the NCAA Mideast Regional to earn their first trip to the MCWS since 1976. The Sooners tied for 5th in the 1992 College World Series winning 1 game and losing 2, but Cochell would use the 1992 season to catapult the Sooners to national prominence. The 1992 team finished the season 43–24 overall. After a rebuilding year in 1993, Cochell was poised to return the program to glory.

1994 national championship

In 1994, Cochell entered his fourth season at the helm of the Sooner program. The Sooners breezed through the 1994 regular season with a record of 42–17. They also posted a 21–9 mark in conference play, but that was only good enough to finish second in the conference. The Sooners were placed in the NCAA Central Regional along with Arkansas St., Stanford, and Texas. In their first game of the regional, OU defeated Arkansas St. 10–3, setting up a second round game with Stanford. Once again OU had no trouble putting runs on the board, defeating Stanford 10–4. After winning their first two games, OU was in the driver's seat for the remainder of the regional. With a berth in the regional championship on the line, the Sooners delivered; they defeated Texas 15–4. Texas avoided elimination to set up a rematch with OU in the championship, but the result turned out the same. The Sooners claimed the Central Regional championship, defeating the Longhorns 6–3. The Sooners were on their way to Omaha, earning their 8th trip to the College World Series.

The Sooners were the No. 4 seed in the 1994 College World Series, which set up a first-round game with the No. 5 seed Auburn Tigers. OU continued their winning ways, defeating the Tigers 5–4. The win placed the Sooners in the winner's bracket and set up a second-round game against Arizona St. Arizona St. surprised top-seeded Miami in the opening round 4–0 to advance to the winner's bracket. OU once again won by a single run, 4–3, to advance to the semi-finals. After defeating Miami for a second game and eliminating the Hurricanes, the Sun Devils were looking for revenge, but the Sooners rose to the occasion. Oklahoma eliminated Arizona St., 6–1, to advance to the championship round. The Sooners played Georgia Tech for the championship, who had also won its first three games in Omaha that year. OU's bats came alive in the championship game as OU defeated the Yellow Jackets 13–5 to claim the second national title in school history. Cochell guided the Sooners to a 50–17 overall record after winning the CWS.

Retirement and legacy

On May 1, 2005 Cochell submitted his letter of resignation to Oklahoma. Cochell resigned after making racial remarks during two separate interviews. Cochell used racially insensitive remarks to describe Joe Dunigan III who was a freshman outfielder and is an African-American. The remarks were not during taped interviews, but were brought to the attention of the university by ESPN after the fact. Cochell would later issue a public statement in which he apologized for the remarks, and the Dunnigan family would later state they forgave Cochell.[5]

Cochell, who had coached for 39 total seasons, was the keeper of the OU baseball program for nearly 15 full seasons. He led the program through one of the most successful eras of its history, including leading them to the 1994 championship, the first in over four decades, despite the quick exit that engulfed his departure, although he was invited back to the introduction of Pete Hughes as head coach in 2013.[6][7]

Sunny Golloway era (2006-2013)

Sonny Golloway was promoted from associate head coach to interim head coach on May 1, 2005 following the resignation of Larry Cochell. Golloway held the interim tag for the remainder of the 2005 season posting a 12–6 record. The Sooners earned an berth in the 2005 NCAA tournament, but were eliminated in the Oxford regional finals by Ole Miss. Following the 2005 season, the interim tag was removed from the title, and Golloway became head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners baseball program.

Prior to becoming head coach at OU, Golloway returned to Norman for his second stint with the Sooners Program. Golloway was an assistant coach under Cochell from 1992–1995 before leaving to become the head coach at Oral Roberts. Golloway would coach a total of 8 seasons at Oral Roberts posting a 335–156 record. Following the 2003 season, Golloway left Oral Roberts to return to Norman as associate head coach.

In his first full season as head coach of the Sooners, Golloway led the team to a 45–22 record overall. The 2006 team finished 3rd overall in the Big 12 Conference, and earned its second straight NCAA post-season berth. In the post-season, Oklahoma was awarded a host site for the regional round of the tournament. After losing their first game to TCU, the Sooners would win 4 straight to earn their first regional title since 1995 and a berth in the super regional round for the first time. Oklahoma traveled to Houston to face the Rice Owls, with the winner earning a berth in the 2006 College World Series. Rice won the first game, but OU was able to come back with a victory in game 2 to force a rubber game. Rice, the No. 2 overall seed that year, was just too much in the pivotal third game of the super regionals, and ended OU's season.

After a promising first full season as coach, expectations for Golloway were increasing. Unfortunately in 2007, the Sooners never lived up to their potential finishing the season 34–24. They failed to make the post-season, but Golloway was determined to keep the program moving in the right direction. The following year, the Sooners finished the season 36–26–1 overall, and once again earned a trip to the post-season. The Sooners would make it all the way to the Tempe regional finals, before coming up short against Arizona St. to end the 2008 season.

In his fourth full year as head coach at Oklahoma, Golloway was once again able to keep the program moving in the right direction. OU finished second in the Big 12 posting a 17–10 record in conference play, only a half game behind Texas for the regular season title. After earning the No. 2 seed in the 2009 Big 12 baseball tournament, the Sooners posted a disappointing 1–2 record in pool play. Following the Big 12 championship, the Sooners had a record of 41–18. Despite their poor performance in the Big 12 tournament, they were still rewarded with a host site and the No. 7 national seed in the 2009 NCAA Division I baseball tournament. After winning their first game in the Norman regional, the Sooners fell to Arkansas in the second round. The Sooners would bounce back and defeat Washington St. in an elimination, but once again lost to Arkansas. The Sooners finished the 2009 season 43–20.

In 2010, the Sooners finished 50–18. The team swept through their regional and won the super regional against the Virginia Cavaliers 2–1. The Super Regional was highlighted by Cody Reine who had back to back multi-homerun games in games 2 and 3. The Sooners earned their 10th appearance in the College World Series where they won their first game against the South Carolina Gamecocks 4–3. The Sooners then lost to the Clemson Tigers and then lost on a walk-off hit to the Gamecocks in a rematch.

After the 2013 season, Golloway left for Auburn.

Pete Hughes era (2014-2017)

In 2014, Pete Hughes, who had previously served as head coach of the Virginia Tech Hokies for the previous seven seasons. In his four seasons with the Sooners, he led them to over 30 wins three times, although his team advanced past the Second Round of the Big 12 Tournament just once (2015), with only one NCAA tournament appearance in 2017, which ended with two losses in the Louisville Regional. After the 2017 season, he was fired by the program.[8]

Skip Johnson era (2018–present)

On June 19, 2017, Skip Johnson was announced as the new head coach of the Sooners. In the 2022 season, Johnson coached the Sooners to the Big 12 Tournament championship defeating Texas, and to the College World Series defeating Virginia Tech in the Blacksburg Super Regional.[9] The Sooners reached the final of the College World Series, in which they lost against the Ole Miss Rebels.[10]

L. Dale Mitchell Baseball Park

L. Dale Mitchell Baseball Park is a baseball stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. It is the home field for the University of Oklahoma Sooners college baseball team. It is named after the former OU player Dale Mitchell who holds OU's career and single-season batting records. The park was originally constructed at a cost of $1.27 million and was dedicated in 1982. After two renovations, the current capacity is 2,700 people.

Conference affiliations

4he Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association was not officially renamed until 1964. In 1964 it became the Big Eight, but was nicknamed the Big Six and Big Seven prior to its official renaming.

Head coaches

  • Records are through the end of the 2022 season
Tenure Coach Years Record Pct.
1906–1922 Bennie Owen 17 142–102–4 .581
1923–1926 Bill Owen 4 42–13 .764
1927–1941 Lawrence Haskell 15 176–74–2 .702
1942–1967 Jack Baer 26 281–250 .529
1968–1989 Enos Semore 22 851–370–1 .697
1990 Stan Meek 1 31–26 .544
1991–2005 Larry Cochell 15 511–336–1 .603
2006–2013 Sunny Golloway 5 170–98–1 .634
2014–2017 Pete Hughes 4 128–107–1 .544
2018–present Skip Johnson 5 157–104–0 .602
Totals 10 coaches 119 2,698–1,575–13 .631

Year-by-year NCAA Division I results

Records taken from the 2017 Oklahoma Sooners baseball media guide page 64.[11]

Year-by-year results
Year Head coach Overall Winning % Conference Winning % Conf. finish Notes
1898 No coach 2–1 .667
1899 2–1 .667
1900 1–3 .250
No teams from 1901 to 1903
1904 No coach 4–5–1 .450
1905 1–3 .250
1906 Bennie Owen 10–6 .625
1907 12–5 .706
No team in 1908
1909 Bennie Owen 13–4 .765
1910 11–9 .550
1911 11–6 .647
1912 6–6–1 .541
1913 11–6 .647
1914 12–7–1 .625
1915 17–4 .810
1916 7–9 .438
No team in 1917
1918 Bennie Owen 10–6 .625
1919 6–7 .462
1920 5–8–1 .392
1921 6–9–1 .406
1922 5–10 .333
1923 Bill Owen 12–4 .750
1924 9–3 .750
1925 11–2 .846 10–1 .909 MVIAA Champions
1926 10–4 .714 8–4 .667 MVIAA Champions
1927 Lawrence Haskell 12–5 .706 12–5 .706 MVIAA Champions
1928 7–9 .438
1929 9–7–1 .559 5–6 .455 4th
1930 11–4–1 .719 9–3–1 .731 t-1st Big 8 Champions
1931 10–1 .909 6–1 .857 t-1st Big 8 Champions
1932 5–7 .417 1–3 .250 5th
1933 11–5 .688 3–2 .600 t-1st Big 8 Champions
1934 15–3 .833 4–2 .667
1935 14–3 .824 7–0 1.000 1st Big 8 Champions
1936 18–3 .857 6–0 1.000 t-1st Big 8 Champions
1937 13–5 .722 6–1 .857 6th
1938 12–6 .667 6–2 .750 2nd
1939 14–5 .737 9–1 .900 1st Big 6 Champions
1940 16–5 .762 9–1 .900 1st Big 6 Champions
1941 9–6 .600 6–2 .750 2nd
1942 Jack Baer 17–7 .708 6–1 .857 2nd
No teams from 1943–1945 due to World War II
1946 Jack Baer 17–3 .850 5–1 .857 1st Big 6 Champions
1947 15–13 .536 7–4 .636 1st Big 6 Champions
1948 7–14 .333 5–9 .357 6th
1949 10–10 .500 7–5 .583 2nd
1950 14–8 .636 7–5 .583 3rd
1951 19–9 .679 10–1 .909 1st Big 7 Champions
CWS Champions
1952 7–14 .333 4–7 .364 6th
1953 11–11 .500 7–2 .778 1st Big 7 Champions
1954 12–8 .600 8–4 .667 2nd
1955 13–10 .565 9–1 .900 1st Big 7 Champions
1956 11–7 .611 7–2 .778 1st Big 7 Champions
1957 10–8 .556 9–6 .600 2nd
1958 12–8 .600 11–5 .688 3rd
1959 12–11 .522 7–10 .412 5th
1960 13–10 .565 12–7 .632 3rd
1961 10–15 .400 9–10 .474 5th
1962 9–17 .346 8–13 .381 7th
1963 14–10 .583 13–5 .722 2nd
1964 17–10 .630 13–8 .619 2nd
1965 7–20 .259 6–15 .286 8th
1966 13–11 .542 11–6 .647 2nd
1967 11–16 .407 11–9 .550 3rd
1968 Enos Semore 13–14 .481 10–8 .556 3rd
1969 23–10 .697 17–4 .810 2nd
1970 20–17 .541 10–9 .526 4th
1971 24–11 .686 13–8 .619 T-2nd
1972 35–17 .673 12–8 .600 1st Big 8 Champions
1973 48–12 .800 17–4 .810 1st Big 8 Champions
1974 43–8 .843 18–3 .857 1st Big 8 Champions
1975 52–10 .839 15–3 .833 1st Big 8 Champions
1976 62–19 .765 4–2 .667 2nd
1977 37–11 .771 9–1 .900 T-1st Big 8 Champions
Big 8 Tournament champions
1978 39–20 .661 10–2 .833 1st Big 8 Champions
1979 36–27 .571 12–8 .600 T-3rd Big 8 Tournament champions
1980 33–24–1 .578 8–10 .444 5th
1981 40–15 .727 11–13 .458 5th
1982 35–25 .583 11–6 .647 3rd
1983 39–20 .661 18–6 .750 2nd
1984 42–15 .737 14–4 .778 2nd
1985 55–14 .797 18–6 .750 2nd
1986 44–21 .677 19–3 .864 1st Big 8 Champions
1987 42–20 .667 17–7 .708 2nd
1988 45–21 .682 16–8 .667 2nd
1989 44–19 .698 18–6 .750 3rd
1990 Stan Meek 31–26 .544 9–15 .375 7th
1991 Larry Cochell 40–23 .635 13–11 .542 2nd
1992 43–24 .642 17–7 .708 T-1st
1993 31–24 .564 13–14 .481 5th
1994 50–17 .746 21–9 .700 2nd CWS Champions
1995 42–16 .724 21–7 .750 1st Big 8 Champions
1996 32–25 .561 14–12 .538 3rd
1997 39–20 .661 18–11 .621 4th Big 12 Tournament champions
1998 42–20 .677 17–11 .607 4th
1999 30–29 .508 12–18 .333 8th
2000 41–23 .641 20–10 .667 3rd
2001 25–33–1 .432 13–16–1 .450 7th
2002 35–27 .565 15–12 .556 4th
2003 23–31 .426 10–17 .370 7th
2004 38–24 .613 19–8 .704 2nd
2005 Cochell/Golloway 35–26 .574 14–13 .519 5th
2006 Sunny Golloway 45–22 .672 17–10 .630 3rd
2007 34–24 .586 11–16 .407 7th
2008 36–26–1 .579 9–17–1 .352 8th
2009 43–20 .683 17–10 .630 2nd
2010 50–18 .735 15–10 .600 2nd
2011 41–19 .721 14–11 .560 3rd
2012 42–25 .627 13–10 .565 4th
2013 43–21 .672 13–11 .542 4th
2014 Pete Hughes 29–29 .500 8–16 .333 8th
2015 34–27 .557 13–11 .542 3rd
2016 30–27–1 .526 11–13 .458 5th
2017 35–24 .593 12–11 .522 3rd
2018 Skip Johnson 38–25 .603 14–10 .583 4th
2019 33–23 .589 11–13 .458 6th
2020 14–4 .778 0–0 Season cut short by
the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021 27–28 .491 11–13 .458 5th
2022 45–24 .652 15–9 .625 3rd Big 12 Tournament champions / CWS Runner-up

Championships

National championships

Season Record Head coach
1951 16–9 Jack Baer
1994 50–17 Larry Cochell
Two national championships

Conference tournament championships

Season Conference Head coach
1977 Big Eight Enos Semore
1997 Big 12 Larry Cochell
2013 Sunny Golloway
2022 Skip Johnson
Four conference tournament championships

OU in the NCAA tournament

Year Record Pct Notes
1947 0–1 .000 Lost in Western playoff bracket
1951 4–0 1.000 College World Series champions
1955 1–2 .333 Lost in District 5 series to Oklahoma St.
1956 0–1 .000 Eliminated by North Dakota State in NCAA District Tournament
1972 3–2 .600 NCAA tournament District Champions
College World Series (5th Place)
1973 4–2 .667 NCAA tournament District Champions
College World Series (5th Place)
1974 3–2 .600 NCAA tournament District Champions
College World Series (5th Place)
1975 7–3 .700 Won the Midwest Regional
College World Series (3rd Place)
1976 3–3 .500 Won the South Central Regional
College World Series (7th Place)
1977 1–2 .333 Eliminated by Michigan in NCAA South Central Regional
1979 1–2 .333 Eliminated by Hawaii in the Midwest Regional
1982 2–2 .500 Eliminated by Eastern Michigan in NCAA Central Regional
1984 0–2 .000 Eliminated by Lamar in NCAA Central Regional
1985 2–2 .500 Eliminated by Lamar in NCAA Central Regional
1986 1–2 .333 Eliminated by Tulane in NCAA South I Regional
1987 0–2 .000 Eliminated by Texas in NCAA Central Regional
1988 0–2 .000 Eliminated by Arizona St. in NCAA West II Regional
1989 1–2 .333 Eliminated by Loyola Marymoun in NCAA WEst I Regional
1991 0–2 .000 Eliminated by LSU in NCAA South Regional
1992 5–3 .625 Won NCAA Mideast Regional
College World Series (5th Place)
1994 8–0 1.000 Won NCAA Central Regional
College World Series champions
1995 4–2 .667 Won NCAA Midwest II Regional
College World Series (7th Place)
1997 0–2 .000 Eliminated by LSU in NCAA South I Regional
1998 2–2 .500 Eliminated by Auburn in the Atlantic II Regional
2000 2–2 .500 Lost to UCLA in the Oklahoma City Regional Finals
2002 0–2 .000 Eliminated by Wichita State in the Wichita Regional
2004 1–2 .333 Eliminated by UCLA in the Oklahoma City Regional
2005 2–2 .500 Lost to Ole Miss in the Oxford Regional Finals
2006 5–3 .625 Won the Norman Regional
Lost to Rice in the Houston Super Regional
2008 2–2 .500 Lost to Arizona State in the Tempe Regional Finals
2009 2–2 .500 Lost to Arkansas in the Norman Regional Finals
2010 6–3 .667 Won the Norman Regional
Won the Charlottesville Super Regional
College World Series (5th Place)
2011 0–2 .000 Eliminated by Oral Roberts in the Fort Worth Regional
2012 4–3 .571 Won the Charlottesville Regional
Lost to South Carolina in the Columbia Super Regional
2013 3–2 .600 Won the Blacksburg Regional
Lost to LSU in the Baton Rouge Super Regional
2017 1–2 .333 Eliminated by Xavier in the Louisville Regional
2018 2–2 .500 Lost to Mississippi State in the Tallahassee Regional Final
2022 5–2 .714 Won the Gainesville Regional
Won the Blacksburg Super Regional
Lost to Ole Miss in the College World Series Final
2023 1–2 .333 Eliminated by East Carolina in the Charlottesville Regional

Player awards

All Americans

The following is a listing of first team selections. Other selections are available at Oklahoma's official web site.[12]

All College World Series

The following is a listing of first team selections. Other selections are available at USC's official web site.[13]
^ denotes player was named MOP of the College World Series

All-Conference teams

Selections from 1958 were affiliated with the Big 7 conference, selections from 1976–1996 were affiliated with the Big 8 conference, and selections from 1997 on were affiliated with the Big 12 conference.
^ and ^^ respectively denote Big Eight and Big 12 Conference Player of the Year
* and ** respectively denote denotes Big Eight and Big 12 Conference Newcomer of the Year

Conference All-Tournament teams

Selections from 1976–1996 were affiliated with the Big 8 conference, and selections from 1997 on were affiliated with the Big 12 conference.
^ denotes player was selected as the MVP of the tournament.

See also

References