Following the decline in the Sooners’ performance at the end of Sherri Coale’s career, Jennie Baranczyk has positioned her team for success as OU transitions to the SEC.
After a celebrated tenure at Oklahoma, including nine Sweet 16 appearances, legendary head coach Sherri Coale stepped down after the 2020-21 season.
Though Coale had significant success at OU, her final years were less fruitful, with the Sooners posting a 32-52 record over her last three seasons. This led to a coaching change that brought former Drake head coach Jennie Baranczyk to Oklahoma.
Upon her arrival, Baranczyk quickly revitalized OU, leading the team to a 25-9 record and an NCAA Tournament appearance in her first year. In her second season, the Sooners went 26-7, shared the Big 12 regular season championship, and again made it to the NCAA Tournament.
Baranczyk’s coaching prowess shone in the 2023-24 season, despite a rocky start with losses to Princeton, Tennessee, UNLV, North Carolina, and Southern. Once conference play began, the Sooners turned their season around, winning 12 of their first 13 Big 12 games and finishing 15-3 in conference play, securing the regular season title for the second consecutive year. Although they fell in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals, they earned a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament, defeating Middle Tennessee State before losing to Indiana in the Round of 32.
Despite another second-round exit, the Sooners retain most of their roster from last season. Skylar Vann, after an impressive redshirt junior season that earned her Big 12 Co-Player of the Year and All-American honors, returns for her final season. All-American Payton Verhulst also returns for her second year at OU, following a standout season where she averaged 12.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.2 steals, and one block per game, earning First Team All-Big 12 and Big 12 Newcomer of the Year honors.
Additionally, Baranczyk and her staff secured a major acquisition in the transfer portal, adding All-American forward Raegan Beers from Oregon State, who chose the Sooners over the Connecticut Huskies and their legendary coach Geno Auriemma.
