In this thread we mourn the loss of Stephenson to OU
 

Its a sad day here in Wichita. :( Not only did he leave, but he took his assistants too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Posted on Mon, Jul. 11, 2005

Stephenson introduced as OU coach

BY ADAM KNAPP

The Wichita Eagle


NORMAN, Okla. - An emotional Gene Stephenson was introduced as Oklahoma's baseball coach this morning, trying hard not to cry when reflecting on his record-breaking 28 seasons at Wichita State.

"Every time I talk about Wichita State, I start to break up," said Stephenson, who is taking longtime assistant coaches Brent Kemnitz and Jim Thomas with him.

OU athletic director Joe Castiglione said Stephenson would be given a six-year contract. Stephenson had not signed it as of the news conference.

Read The Rest Here

According to Local News, It is a Done Deal.:)

So had tears in eyes as a Dream Job for Him being from Oak!!!!:D

Castiglione is the best AD around.

I'm hearing he pulled out of the deal after accepting it. Something about baseball scholarships suffering due to football.

Stephenson returns to Wichita State
 

Gene, don't ever play with our emotions like that, ever again. :mad:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Posted on Mon, Jul. 11, 2005

Eagle staff

In a stunning decision, Gene Stephenson says he will return as Wichita State coach, leaving Oklahoma after he was announced as the Sooners' coach at a press conference Monday morning.

Stephenson, in a release faxed out Monday night, said scholarship issues arose at Oklahoma that caused him to reconsider.

Stephenson's statement:

"We are very appreciative for the opportunity to coach at the University of Oklahoma.

"However, some scholarship issues have arisen that are unresolveable to our satisfaction.

"We have worked over the years at Wichita State in order touse our scholarships and to plan for the use of our future scholarships.

"As we assessed the Oklahoma baseball scholarship situation, we would be too limited in our ability to take the program in the direction that we think it should go.

"OU has always been our dream job, and it is most unfortunate for all of us that this could not work. We dearly love the University of Oklahoma, and are very thankful to have been given the opportunity.

"Unfortunately, the scholarship issues have forced us to reconsider, and have made a decision to stay at Wichita State University."

Read the article here

WOW, SUPRISE SUPRISE!:eek:

Cant really blame him though. If you go in with your hands tied, how can you build?

Title 9 -- still ruining college sports.