How about that Sooner women's basketball team? Despite what could have been season stopping injuries to their starting line-up, these University of Oklahoma ladies have persevered with great success. The team photos and family snapshots displayed in head coach Sherri Coale’s office illustrate what she values most. Dane, her husband of 15 years, their 10-year-old son Colton, and 6-year-old daughter Chandler are vividly woven into her achievements.

"I don’t know that I could do this without them," Sherri says, "because I tend to be very focused and immersed in what I’m doing. They enable me to keep a healthy perspective."

Emotional Investment

"Coaching is a lot of feel," Sherri says. "Some days we get down on the practice floor and, because of how the players are feeling, my practice plans change. You have to know your team mentally, emotionally, and physically.

"It seems like coaching would help you know how to better raise your kids and vice versa. But I’m doing both at the same time, so I’m not always sure that any of it’s right—I don’t know that anybody does until it’s all said and done. But, I think some things work in both areas—catch kids doing things right, let them know that you believe in them, and give them high expectations and consistent, accountable consequences. Being honest and true to your word are important to foster the trust and respect that you need as a coach and as a parent.

"The one constant denominator I see in coaching and parenting is that sometimes, it’s not fun. I don’t enjoy disciplining my daughter, but it’s sure worth it because if I do it, I know she won’t run out in the street in front of a car. I don’t enjoy telling a player she’s not working to her potential, but it’s important that she hear it from me so she can be successful."

Parents Are More Than Friends

"My daughter, Chandler, still tells me every night that she loves me and that I’m her best friend. I think it’s the coolest thing ever. But at the same time, we’re not just best friends. I have a responsibility to teach her and to guide her.

"I think our society has taken a turn toward empty praise. Telling kids they’re doing a great job when they’re not, I think, is probably the most damaging thing we can do to people we are responsible for leading—whether they be our players or our children. If they do something great, by all means, tell them and celebrate it. But if it’s not great, tell them that as well. Every year as we recruit, we see more and more kids who cannot deal with any constructive criticism or direction because they’ve never been given any. We look for kids who can handle it."

Replenishing Energy

Sherri says she can feel "sapped" when dealing with so many people’s emotional ups and downs. "Sometimes, you’re empty. It can be tough to supply all the energy everybody needs. But my family is wonderful," Sherri says. "They come to every game they can and they travel with the team often. Recently, Chandler went to the Baylor game with me and instead of going to bed early, she and I watched Stuart Little and told stories before we went to sleep. So, even though I could have been resting, I gained energy from spending time with her.

"It’s very important for women, in particular, to carve out time for themselves," Sherri says. "And yet, it’s the first thing that goes when something isn’t working right because women are not going to take from their families or from their jobs. For me, I have to work out, even if I can only squeeze in a 20-minute run. I’ve gotta do it, and do it early in the day so it doesn’t get pushed away. Taking time to be thankful for the things that we have really helps too."

A Great Support Team

Sherri finds enormous support in her husband, Dane, a math teacher and head baseball coach at Purcell High School. "My husband’s just the best in that he’s independent and very secure. I can do what I need to do and not worry because he’s supportive. We fill in for one another. But it’s not always easy. Our time is often ‘spoken for,’ so we reserve part of each summer to be with our family and to have some time alone together."

The assistance doesn’t stop with hubby and kids, Sherri says. "My grandmother actually lives with us. She just turned 87 and you’d swear she’s 60. My mom has just recently moved to Norman and helps us too. Kids today don’t often have their grandparents, much less their great-grandparents, so our situation is really neat.

"The players and my staff are wonderful with my kids. Colton and Chandler fit right in here. My kids have a lot of people who love them unconditionally and it’s very special."

Sooner Stats

Since Sherri Coale arrived at the University of Oklahoma, the women’s basketball program has flourished. The team has:

Played in the NCAA National Championship game (2002).
Held three Big 12 regular season titles (2000, 2001, 2002).
Made three NCAA Sweet 16 appearances (2000, 2001, 2002).
Played in two Big 12 Tournaments (2001, 2002).
Won OU’s first Big 12 Tournament and NCAA Regional West titles (2002).
Seen home fan attendance grow from 2,009 per game (‘96-’97) to 6,606 fans per game last year and season ticket sales escalate from 700 a year ago to over 3,000 in 2002.
Had three Big 12 Players of the Year—Phylesha Whaley (2000) and Stacey Dales (2001, 2002).

Sherri on Kids and Sports

When to start: Though son Colton (10) and daughter Chandler (6) are frequently present on the OU practice court, Sherri hasn’t given Chandler the green light to play yet. "Colton plays lots of sports and is on a basketball league now, but I held off with him as long as I could. I just think kids start way too early and it gets too serious, too fast. It’s silly. I prefer them to play in the driveway with their friends. Chandler plays soccer and I’ll let her play basketball later—she’s got lots of time."

When to stop: "I wish I knew the magical answer about when to let a kid stop something in which they’re gifted, but disinterested. It’s frustrating, but I think they have to choose it. Eventually, I feel that people will come back to their gifts."

Sooners Reaching Out

Each year the Sooner women’s basketball team works with a non-profit organization. This year they’re teaming up with Cleveland County Family Institute which provides programs for kids. "We try to rotate the kinds of services so that each girl has a chance to find something that fits. I think it’s important for the players to do community service work because it helps them see how fortunate they are and gives them a chance to give back to the community. I’m really big on that. It’s everyone’s responsibility to give to the community—it’s not optional for my players, for my kids, or for me."

Denise Springer, a proud OSU Alum, has suddenly become a fan of the OU women’s basketball program.