JimBob
01-14-2009, 09:16 PM
OSU basketball: Sean Sutton reflects on his experience as coach
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Published: 1/14/2009 5:30 PM
Last Modified: 1/14/2009 6:44 PM
A year ago, Sean Sutton seemed saturated with stress. During a period of about three months, he endured almost daily speculation about his job security.
On April 1, he experienced the extremely public heartbreak of his forced resignation from Oklahoma State’s basketball coaching position.
Having turned 40 in October, Sutton says he feels healthy, energized and optimistic that he will be coaching again next season. He dropped from 208 pounds to 188 -– only three pounds above what had been his 1990-92 playing weight at OSU.
“I’ve just worked out and I’ve been more conscious of what I’m eating,” Sutton said during his first newspaper interview since May. “Plus, I’m eating earlier at night. That’s a big key.
“It’s been a relaxing summer and fall. I’ve really enjoyed the time that I’ve been spending with my boys and my family.”
For his father, former Cowboy coach Eddie Sutton, Sean Sutton was a point guard for two years and an assistant coach for 13 seasons. Sean Sutton was Oklahoma State’s head coach for two full seasons. His head-coaching record was 39-29, with two National Invitation Tournament first-round defeats.
Last month, Sutton received the final installment of his contract buyout settlement. After taxes, he received a total of slightly more than $1.3 million.
Following his resignation, Sutton says he received “over a thousand letters” of encouragement from OSU fans.
“Every place that I go, people are appreciative of the time that I spent at Oklahoma State, and people are very kind,” he said.
Asked when he began to feel peace about his situation, Sutton replied, “Probably in August. There was a time when it wasn’t easy. The whole process wasn’t easy to endure. “Life is full of challenges. Adversity happens for all people. What happened to me had to do with an occupation. It wasn’t life or death, or a serious illness like so many people face. I never sat around and felt sorry for myself or felt that life was unfair. For many people, life isn’t fair.”
For the first time in 16 years, Sutton is not involved in coaching. He says he has enjoyed the break and the chance to spend quality time with his family, and says he is eager to coach again.
“For the immediate future, I prefer the college game and I would like the opportunity to be a head coach again,” Sutton said. “But my ego is not one where I would be (satisfied) only with being a head coach. I’m very open to going back to being an assistant, especially for somebody that I really like, in a good program and in a place where my family would be happy to live.”
Sutton and his wife Trena have three sons –- Hunter (age 16), Spencer (11) and Sean Parker (6). The boys are lifelong residents of Stillwater.
“I had to move from Arkansas when I was 16, and it’s a tough age to move, but I think my boys will be ready and be excited,” Sutton said.
On Dec. 28, Sutton was in Los Angeles to watch Southern Cal defeat Oral Roberts (coached by his younger brother Scott Sutton). On Jan. 6, Sean Sutton was in Fayetteville to watch Arkansas beat Texas. On Monday, he was in Norman to watch Oklahoma beat Texas.
And on Tuesday, Sutton was in Tulsa –- and in the University of Tulsa’s Reynolds Center for the first time. From a seat on press row, he saw Memphis defeat the Golden Hurricane.
Within the next six weeks, Sutton plans to attend practice sessions at Duke, North Carolina, Texas and Arkansas, and also may visit Kansas and Michigan State.
“After doing it for 16 years – the grind and stress that comes with coaching –- it’s been fun just to sit back in the last few months and watch games on TV,” Sutton said. “This is a time to recharge my batteries and refocus on my future. I’ll see if I can learn some things that can help me down the road in coaching.”
Sutton’s successor, Travis Ford, has coached OSU to a 12-3 start overall, a 1-0 start in Big 12 play and a No. 19 position in the CollegeRPI.com national rankings.
Sutton says he has watched “just bits and pieces” of a few televised OSU games.
“I knew (Ford) would come in and do a good job,” Sutton said. “I’m not surprised one bit by their record. I thought this team had a chance to be really good. There’s not many teams in the country that have a better collection of perimeter players. I’m happy for those guys and hope they continue to play well.”
The Cowboys visit Baylor on Saturday.
While acknowledging that the coaching lifestyle is difficult, Sutton says he would not consider a career change.
“No, because this is what I know,” he said. “I will always love to do it. My last year at Oklahoma State was very stressful for me and for my family. I was paid to handle all of that, but it was tough for my family to watch it. But we came out of it good.
“I certainly treasure the memories I have of Oklahoma State, and nothing is ever going to tarnish those, but I’m at that point in my life where I’ve moved on and moved forward.”
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Published: 1/14/2009 5:30 PM
Last Modified: 1/14/2009 6:44 PM
A year ago, Sean Sutton seemed saturated with stress. During a period of about three months, he endured almost daily speculation about his job security.
On April 1, he experienced the extremely public heartbreak of his forced resignation from Oklahoma State’s basketball coaching position.
Having turned 40 in October, Sutton says he feels healthy, energized and optimistic that he will be coaching again next season. He dropped from 208 pounds to 188 -– only three pounds above what had been his 1990-92 playing weight at OSU.
“I’ve just worked out and I’ve been more conscious of what I’m eating,” Sutton said during his first newspaper interview since May. “Plus, I’m eating earlier at night. That’s a big key.
“It’s been a relaxing summer and fall. I’ve really enjoyed the time that I’ve been spending with my boys and my family.”
For his father, former Cowboy coach Eddie Sutton, Sean Sutton was a point guard for two years and an assistant coach for 13 seasons. Sean Sutton was Oklahoma State’s head coach for two full seasons. His head-coaching record was 39-29, with two National Invitation Tournament first-round defeats.
Last month, Sutton received the final installment of his contract buyout settlement. After taxes, he received a total of slightly more than $1.3 million.
Following his resignation, Sutton says he received “over a thousand letters” of encouragement from OSU fans.
“Every place that I go, people are appreciative of the time that I spent at Oklahoma State, and people are very kind,” he said.
Asked when he began to feel peace about his situation, Sutton replied, “Probably in August. There was a time when it wasn’t easy. The whole process wasn’t easy to endure. “Life is full of challenges. Adversity happens for all people. What happened to me had to do with an occupation. It wasn’t life or death, or a serious illness like so many people face. I never sat around and felt sorry for myself or felt that life was unfair. For many people, life isn’t fair.”
For the first time in 16 years, Sutton is not involved in coaching. He says he has enjoyed the break and the chance to spend quality time with his family, and says he is eager to coach again.
“For the immediate future, I prefer the college game and I would like the opportunity to be a head coach again,” Sutton said. “But my ego is not one where I would be (satisfied) only with being a head coach. I’m very open to going back to being an assistant, especially for somebody that I really like, in a good program and in a place where my family would be happy to live.”
Sutton and his wife Trena have three sons –- Hunter (age 16), Spencer (11) and Sean Parker (6). The boys are lifelong residents of Stillwater.
“I had to move from Arkansas when I was 16, and it’s a tough age to move, but I think my boys will be ready and be excited,” Sutton said.
On Dec. 28, Sutton was in Los Angeles to watch Southern Cal defeat Oral Roberts (coached by his younger brother Scott Sutton). On Jan. 6, Sean Sutton was in Fayetteville to watch Arkansas beat Texas. On Monday, he was in Norman to watch Oklahoma beat Texas.
And on Tuesday, Sutton was in Tulsa –- and in the University of Tulsa’s Reynolds Center for the first time. From a seat on press row, he saw Memphis defeat the Golden Hurricane.
Within the next six weeks, Sutton plans to attend practice sessions at Duke, North Carolina, Texas and Arkansas, and also may visit Kansas and Michigan State.
“After doing it for 16 years – the grind and stress that comes with coaching –- it’s been fun just to sit back in the last few months and watch games on TV,” Sutton said. “This is a time to recharge my batteries and refocus on my future. I’ll see if I can learn some things that can help me down the road in coaching.”
Sutton’s successor, Travis Ford, has coached OSU to a 12-3 start overall, a 1-0 start in Big 12 play and a No. 19 position in the CollegeRPI.com national rankings.
Sutton says he has watched “just bits and pieces” of a few televised OSU games.
“I knew (Ford) would come in and do a good job,” Sutton said. “I’m not surprised one bit by their record. I thought this team had a chance to be really good. There’s not many teams in the country that have a better collection of perimeter players. I’m happy for those guys and hope they continue to play well.”
The Cowboys visit Baylor on Saturday.
While acknowledging that the coaching lifestyle is difficult, Sutton says he would not consider a career change.
“No, because this is what I know,” he said. “I will always love to do it. My last year at Oklahoma State was very stressful for me and for my family. I was paid to handle all of that, but it was tough for my family to watch it. But we came out of it good.
“I certainly treasure the memories I have of Oklahoma State, and nothing is ever going to tarnish those, but I’m at that point in my life where I’ve moved on and moved forward.”