Tramel's ScissorTales: Former OU baseball coach Sunny Golloway takes East Central job
Sunny Golloway was broken. He told his prospective employers as much. That’s no way to get a job, but Golloway never was one to say too little.
Charlotte Golloway died of pancreatic cancer last August 27. She held the keys to the Golloway family. Not long before Charlotte died, Sunny pick her up out of her wheelchair, and she kissed his cheek and said, “You’re a good man, Sunny Wayne.”
“Glad you feel that way, because I don’t think the world does,” Sunny said.
That’s one of Golloway’s strengths. He knew he rubbed people wrong. Knew he was a lightning rod. Knew he found conflict coaching baseball at OU and Auburn.
Then Charlotte died. And Golloway went from brash to broken. Depression set in. Most days, Golloway didn’t leave his Blanchard home. Some days, he’d pull the cover over his head and never get out of bed.
But nine months after Charlotte’s death, on Wednesday, East Central University in Ada introduced the 60-year-old Golloway as its new baseball coach. The guy who has taken the Sooners to the College World Series and the Tigers into the hotbeds of Southeastern Conference stadiums, will resume his career on the Division II level, where the Tigers have a pitching mound, a home plate and two dugouts.
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As Golloway sat with East Central’s search committee, he still was brash and blunt.
“I’m broken,” Golloway said in that interview. “I need you guys, and I need East Central more than East Central needs me.
“But if you guys can help me get through what I need to get through, this can be a beautiful thing, because I know my ability to coach.”
Golloway coached OU for 8½ seasons, 2005-13. His Sooner record was 346-181-1. He went to eight NCAA Tournaments, four Super Regionals and the 2010 College World Series.
Since Golloway left for Auburn, OU baseball is 272-205-1, with two NCAA Tournaments and no Super Regionals.
Golloway said he grew frustrated over OU fundraising policies as he tried to build the Sooner program. In 2013, Golloway said his agent brought up three job opportunities – Georgia, Southern Cal and Auburn. Golloway chose Auburn.
“Ended up being a bad choice,” Golloway said.
Truthfully, OU was glad to see him go. Baseball alumni had rallied against Golloway, and OU administration was ready for a change, even if that meant mediocre baseball, which it has.
Golloway lasted two years at Auburn, going 62-50, with one NCAA Tournament appearance. Auburn fired Golloway in 2015, alleging NCAA violations, but Golloway was cleared in 2017 and Auburn settled with him in 2018.
The Golloways had moved back to Oklahoma. Golloway and former major league star Mickey Tettleton ran a baseball academy in Blanchard, Golloway got into the homebuilding business and coached Moore High School in 2019. But the pandemic wiped out his second season, then Charlotte’s cancer changed everything.
Golloway resigned from Moore to take care of his wife, though he was battling prostate cancer himself, which now is in remission.
They had built a dream home in Blanchard; Charlotte had written a variety of Bible verses on the 2x4 frames, before the sheetrock went up. Sunny knows where some of the verses remain, including Jeremiah 29:11. “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"
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When Charlotte died, Sunny gave up all plans to prosper or hope.
Then John O’Dell, recently retired as the state director of the Christian Fellowship of Christian Athletes, called Golloway to tell him about the ECU opening.
Golloway recalled something Charlotte had said to him late in her life. She wanted him to find his joy.
“Sometimes we get beat,” Golloway said. “But I’m not going to be a loser in life. And I have been ... my wife would not be proud of me the last eight months.
“At this point, it’s about me finding my joy. Charlotte wanted me to find my joy.”
East Central athletic director Matt Cole said he wasn't alarmed when Golloway was so raw with his emotions during the interview.
"I do think baseball is a joy of his," Cole said. "This is a tremendous opportunity for ECU to revitalize a program that has struggled a long time."
Golloway said losing Charlotte has changed his priorities. He’s no longer the fire and brimstone coach who lived and died with every game and every pitch. “I still have a burning desire to win, but kids need a break.” So maybe instead of drilling throughout an autumn weekend, maybe they’ll go bowling or go fishing or just go home.
“I’ll take it one step at a time,” Golloway said. “I’m out of shape. I’m out of life shape. I just haven’t done much in eight months.
“I’m not proud of that statement. I’m struggling, but I’m going to get back on the baseball field. Watch out for East Central. We’re going in the same (recruiting) homes as OU and OSU. I can train a kid just as well as anyone in the country.”
Still brash, still blunt, still broken. But maybe East Central baseball can help Sunny Golloway find his joy.
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Mailbag: Mike Gundy’s underrated program
OSU’s sustained football success is starting to draw more attention.
Charlie: “247 Sports’ Josh Pate says Mike Gundy and Cowboy football clearly have one of the most underrated programs in America. They’ve got SEVEN double-digit win seasons since 2008.”
Tramel: I completely concur. Let’s start with 2010 2010, a new decade and when the Cowboys took a major step by tying for the Big 12 South Division title. That’s 12 seasons.
In double-digit wins, Alabama has gone 12-for-12. Clemson has 11. OU and Ohio State have 10 each. Georgia has eight. Tied with seven are OSU, Wisconsin, Oregon, Notre Dame and Michigan State.
Now, double-digit win seasons are not all equal. Notre Dame has made three playoffs. Wisconsin has played in six major bowls, including four Rose Bowls. Michigan State and Oregon made a College Football Playoff.
But still. That’s exalted company for OSU. Ahead of schools like Florida State and LSU, six each. Ahead of Michigan, five. Ahead of Florida and Southern Cal, four each. Ahead of Auburn, Virginia Tech, Iowa, Penn State and Washington, three each. Ahead of Texas, Miami and Texas A&M, one each.
The consistency of Gundy’s program is remarkable.
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Sooners find a point guard
Nevada point guard Grant Sherfield has committed to OU basketball. After flirting with turning professional, Sherfield has decided on another year of college hoops, and that’s quite a bonanza for Porter Moser.
The second-year Sooner coach needed a point guard, and Sherfield fits the bill.
Sherfield, who hails from Fort Worth, Texas, but graduated from Sunrise Christian in Wichita, Kansas, Buddy Hield’s alma mater, played one year at Wichita State and two at Nevada.
Sherfield’s overall numbers are quite impressive. He came off the bench his one year with the Shockers but has started both seasons for the Wolf Pack. For his career, Sherfield has averaged 15.0 points, 5.0 assists, 2.6 turnovers and 3.6 rebounds, while shooting 41.7 percent from the field, including 33.9 percent from 3-point range.
But as you know, when a mid-major player transfers to the Big 12, I like to look at their performance against Power 5 Conference opponents.
At Wichita State, Sherfield played five games against Power 5 foes – South Carolina, West Virginia, OSU, OU and Ole Miss.
On December 14, 2019 – the season that was cut short in March by Covid – Wichita State hosted OU and beat the Sooners 80-75. Sherfield had 14 points, on 4-of-8 shooting, with six rebounds. In Wichita State’s previous game, an 80-61 rout of OSU in Stillwater, Sherfield had just seven points, on 1-of-6 shooting.
That was a good Wichita State team. Gregg Marshall’s last with the Shockers, before he was fired for mistreatment of players. That WSU team went 23-8, 11-7 in the American Conference. Playing as a freshman on that Wichita State team is a sign of quality.
Nevada was up and down in Sherfield’s two seasons – 16-10 in 2020-21, 13-18 a year ago. Sherfield was the leading Wolf Pack scorer each year.
At Nevada, Sherfield played three games against Power 5 teams – Nebraska, Washington and Kansas, all last season.
So in those eight games against Power 5 teams, Sherfield averaged 27.6 minutes a game, 12.5 points, 2.9 assists, 2.8 turnovers, 4.3 rebounds, .392 shooting and .280 3-point shooting.
Not great. A clear comedown from his established level. Sherfield’s assists took the biggest hit.
But there’s another way to analyze Sherfield. Not all mid-majors are created equal. Sherfield has played in two of the best mid-major leagues. The American Conference is excellent basketball – Houston, Memphis, Cincinnati, Southern Methodist, even Connecticut was in the league the year Sherfield played at Wichita State. And the Mountain West, too, is quality – Boise State, San Diego State, Colorado State and Wyoming each made the NCAA Tournament in 2022.
Playing well in the American or the Mountain West equates to playing well in the Big 12.
Sherfield didn’t play particularly well in conference games as a Wichita State freshman (6.9 points, 29.9 percent shooting), but he was very good in two Mountain West seasons. In conference games those two years, Sherfield’s averages were 18.2 and 17.7 points; 6.6 and 6.6 assists; 2.8 and 2.6 turnovers; .400 and .426 shooting; and .316 and .326 3-point shooting.
Bottom line, Sherfield seems to be a 6-foot-2 scorer and solid ball distributor, with a decent assist to turnover ratio. Sherfield almost surely will be an offensive upgrade from 2021-22 OU point guard Jordan Goldwire, a Duke transfer, though a likely defensive downgrade, since Goldwire was tremendous on that end of the court.
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The List: Big 12 football over/under
BetOnLine.ag has produced its over/under victory totals for the 2022 college football season, and the Big 12 numbers are quite interesting.
The numbers aren’t a prediction, remember. They are a gauge on what the American public believes about a team’s prospects. And some of the Big 12 over/unders will shock you. Spoiler alert: four teams are tied at the top:
8½ Oklahoma: A stunning low number for the Sooners, who typically are in the 10-win range. A year ago, OU’s over/under number was 11. Seems like a pretty good bet to take the over; the Sooners’ schedule is not fearsome. OU plays none of Baylor, OSU nor Texas on the road.
8½ Oklahoma State: This is a little high typically for OSU. The Cowboys were 7½ a year ago – and won 11. Over on the Cowboys is usually a good bet. But the schedule is tough; OSU plays at OU, Baylor and Kansas State. I wouldn’t touch it.
8½ Baylor: The Bears were 5½ a year ago – and won 10 in the regular season, en route to a 12-2 finish. Baylor has to play at OU and Brigham Young, but the Bears are tough. I might pick Baylor to win the conference. I’d go over.
8½ Texas: Annually the nation’s most overhyped team, the Longhorns were eight a year ago – and finished 5-7. Can Texas get to nine wins? Sure. How many times has Texas reached nine regular-season wins since 2009? Once. Go under.
6½ Iowa State: The Cyclones were at 9½ last season and had a massively disappointing season, going 7-5 before a Cheez-It Bowl loss to Clemson. But I believe in Matt Campbell’s program. Seven wins doesn’t seem daunting. Go over.
6½ Kansas State: The Wildcats were 5½ a year ago and finished 7-5 before a Texas Bowl win over Louisiana State. KSU is the opposite of Texas. Habitually underrated. Go over.
6½ Texas Christian: The Sonny Dykes era begins. TCU’s over/under number last season was seven, and the Frogs finished 5-7. TCU hasn’t reached seven regular-season wins since 2017. Go under.
5½ West Virginia: The Mountaineers were 6½ a year ago and finished 6-6. The schedule is tough – non-conference games against Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech, which means only two automatic wins (counting Kansas) -- so I’d pass on the Mountaineers.
5½ Texas Tech: The Red Raiders’ number was 4½ a year ago, and though Tech went 6-6 before a Liberty Bowl win over Mississippi State, I’d have to go under. Tech hasn’t reached seven regular-season wins since 2013.
2½ Kansas: KU’s over/number a year ago was one – and the Jayhawks beat Texas. KU plays Tennessee Tech, Houston and Duke in non-conference. So to reach three wins, the Jayhawks likely will have to beat Tennessee Tech and Duke, then find a Big 12 upset. That’s a reach. Go under.
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Should OKC trade draft picks with Jazz?
The Thunder has three first-round draft picks – No. 2, No. 12 and No. 30.
The Thunder does not need three first-round draft picks. OKC is coming off a season in which it used six rookies extensively – first-round picks Josh Giddey and Tre Mann; second-round picks Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Aaron Wiggins and Vit Krejci; and undrafted Lindy Waters III.
First-round picks almost always come with guaranteed contracts, and the Thunder likely would like to limit its guaranteed contracts, to provide more roster flexibility.
Plus, OKC has a ton of young players, and while sure, the No. 30 overall pick could produce a good player, chances are it won’t, and it’s a crowded process to find out who can play and who can’t.
Sam Presti surely will be dangling that No. 30 pick (and maybe No. 12) to move up in the draft. Would No. 30 and No. 12 get the Thunder up to No. 11 or No. 10? Maybe. Maybe not.
But here’s a proposed trade, if Presti finds no suitors willing to give the Thunder a chance to move up. Trade No. 30 to the Utah Jazz for a future (protected) first-round pick.
The Jazz has no draft picks this year. None. They’ve all been traded away.
That’s not good at all. That hurts player development, that hurts the Summer League process, that hurts the hopes that you strike it rich with a late pick. Back in 2013, Utah had the 27th pick – and chose a 7-foot-2 project from France. Fellow by the name of Rudy Gobert. The Jazz fortunes changed immediately.
So maybe Utah would give OKC a future first-round draft pick – probably in 2025 or 2026, depending on how some other Jazz draft scenarios play out. NBA teams can’t trade first-round picks in successive drafts.
But say the Thunder sends Utah this No. 30 pick, giving the Jazz a first-round rookie, and in return gets a first-round pick in 2026, protected top 20. That means if it’s a valuable slot, Utah keeps the pick and OKC could be sent a second-round pick or two. If it gets into the 20s, OKC gets the pick.
Both franchises win.
Truthfully, the Thunder would rather have another second-round pick this year than that No. 30 pick, for contractual reasons. But sending it off for future considerations is the best return for OKC. If the Thunder should get a No. 22 selection down the road, that’s a nice return on investment.
Just something to think about as the June 23 draft approaches.
Berry Tramel: Berry can be reached at 405-760-8080 or at btramel@oklahoman.com. He can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including FM-98.1. Support his work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Former OU baseball coach Sunny Golloway takes East Central job
