Sherri Coale is a native Oklahoman who grew up in a small rural town just north of the Red River, where she developed a lifelong love for reading, writing, and basketball—not necessarily in that order.

After a standout collegiate career at Oklahoma Christian, she traded her high tops for the sidelines in 1987, beginning what would become a Hall of Fame coaching career.

For 25 years, Sherri served as the head women's basketball coach at the University of Oklahoma, where she became the winningest coach in program history.

Under her leadership, the Sooners appeared in 19 consecutive NCAA tournaments and reached three Final Fours, cementing her legacy as one of the most successful coaches in the sport.

Sherri's contributions extend far beyond OU. She has coached on the international stage with USA Basketball, helping lead teams to a bronze medal in 2001 and a gold medal at the 2013 World University Games, where her squad defeated Russia on their home court.

Throughout her career, she has been recognized not only for competitive excellence but also for championing academics and community service, always striving to maximize her players' potential both on and off the court.

Her impact has been honored with inductions into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame, and numerous others—including the "Home of" signs proudly displayed in her hometown of Healdton.

Beyond coaching, Sherri is an author, master motivator, engaging speaker, gifted writer, and thoughtful observer of everyday life.

She shares her reflections in her weekly blog, A Weigh of Life (sherricoale.com), and is the author of Rooted to Rise, an Amazon bestseller, and The Compost File.

She and her husband, Dane, have been married for 38 years and are the proud parents of two children, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, and two beloved granddaughters who now fill their world with joy.

Key Points

• The importance of coaching beyond the game

• Cultural impact of shows like Ted Lasso

• Growth in collegiate athletics and its consequences

• The allure of writing and life after coaching

• The evolution of women's basketball and its icons

 

Best Quotes

03:23  - 03:28

• "The more curiosity we have, the, the less judgmental we're gonna be and the better off it is."

05:12  - 05:17

• "It's a proven philosophy that if you can connect with someone, you can help shape and change their behavior."

06:59  - 07:03

• "I need that. I need more of that in my life and I'd watch more stuff."
08:16  - 08:20

• "I fell in love with basketball in the third grade. Nobody in my family played."

09:04  - 09:11

• "So I went to college and said, I wanna be a teacher and a coach because I could not imagine a day without a basketball in my hand."

30:44  - 30:53

• "What I wanted them to most leave Oklahoma with what I wanted my children, I have two children. What I wanted them to leave our home with was confidence."

46:38  - 46:46

• "When I first started writing the stories in Rooted to Rise, I had about 15 stories and I thought I didn't, I wasn't writing a book, I was just writing."