Oklahoma Coach Pete Hughes Resigns

Pete Hughes has resigned as coach at Oklahoma, the school announced Monday.

While the Sooners missed the NCAA Tournament in Hughes’ first three seasons in Norman, they advanced to regionals this year after finishing third in the Big 12 Conference. Oklahoma went 1-2 in the Louisville Regional, its season ending with back-to-back blowout losses to Louisville (11-1) and Xavier (11-0).

Oklahoma went 35-24 this season, its best record under Hughes. He went 128-107-1 in four seasons with the Sooners.

Hughes was hired away from Virginia Tech following the 2013 season to take over after former coach Sunny Golloway left for Auburn. Hughes has been a head coach for 21 years, compiling a record of 652-292-3 at Oklahoma, Virginia Tech, Boston College and Trinity (Texas).

The Oklahoma athletic department has had a busy week, as the softball team won the Women’s College World Series last Tuesday and longtime football coach Bob Stoops retired Friday. Now, athletic director Joe Castiglione is set to begin a baseball coaching search.

“Our program has demonstrated its ability to compete at the highest level and we are optimistic about the future,” Castiglione said in a statement.

Oklahoma is the lone Big 12 school with a head coaching vacancy. Potential candidates could include Sam Houston State coach Matt Deggs, Oral Roberts coach Ryan Folmar and Dallas Baptist coach Dan Heefner.

2017 COACHING CHANGES
School Departures Arrivals
Alabama Greg Goff Brad Bohannon
Cincinnati Ty Neal Scott Googins
Citadel Fred Jordan Tony Skole
Dayton Tony Vittorio
East Tennessee State Tony Skole
Incarnate Word Danny Heep
La Salle Mike Lake
Louisiana-Monroe Bruce Peddie
Maryland John Szefc
Massachusetts Mike Stone Matt Reynolds
North Florida Smoke Laval Tim Parenton
Oklahoma Pete Hughes
Santa Clara Dan O’Brien
South Carolina Chad Holbrook
Southern Roger Cador
Stanford Mark Marquess (retiring after season)
Tennessee Dave Serrano Tony Vitello
Texas-Rio Grande Valley Manny Mantrana Derek Matlock
Towson Mike Gottlieb
Virginia Tech Patrick Mason John Szefc
Xavier Scott Googins

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