The 'most significant day in the history of OSU basketball:' Those who were there recall the day Eddie Sutton was hired on April 11, 1990
Editor's note: This originally published in 2020. It's being re-issued today, April 11, the day Eddie Sutton was hired at OSU in 1990.
Thirty years ago today, the future of Oklahoma State basketball was forever changed.
On April 11, 1990, Eddie Sutton came home, replacing Leonard Hamilton as the Cowboys basketball coach.
Sutton's hire had far more significance than simply a former player returning to his alma mater. Sutton brought outstanding coaching credentials, despite an ugly end to his tenure at Kentucky.
There was all the reason in the world to expect success at OSU under Sutton.
OSU went 56-63 in the four seasons before Sutton’s arrival under Hamilton. Sutton took his first two OSU teams to the Sweet Sixteen and the success continued.
You know the rest: A pair of Final Fours, a multitude of outstanding players, the rowdiest arena in the country that doubled in size, and now, finally, entrance into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame this year.
We wanted to know what the vibe in the room was like when Sutton was introduced as the new OSU coach. Certainly the people in that room could sense that OSU basketball would never be the same.
The Tulsa World reached out to four people who were in attendance and asked them to recall their memories from that day, and also one former player and one former coach.
In their own words, here is what they had to say:
The two most important figures in OSU basketball history shaking hands on the most significant day in the history of OSU
In 1990, Steve Buzzard was the director of the OSU athletic media relations department.
There was so much that stood out about the day Eddie Sutton was introduced as OSU’s basketball coach, but a few things immediately come to mind. The first was how surreal the moment was. We knew it was happening and planned the press conference several days in advance. But when Coach Sutton walked the room that day, no one doubted it was an immediate game changer for Cowboy Basketball. His personality and charisma filled the room unlike anything I had witnessed.
It was, by far, the largest press conference we had done at OSU. I was amazed at how at ease Coach Sutton appeared to be. He spoke confidently but humbly and he addressed each of the negative issues that clouded the national narrative surrounding his hiring.
The other thing that was so gratifying was how utterly thrilled Coach (Henry) Iba was to introduce him and to welcome him back to OSU. He was “one of his” and the pride he felt was palpable. Mr. Iba would only live three more years but I know with confidence that was one of the happiest days of his later life. With the hiring of Eddie Sutton, the Iba family was immediately reunited with Cowboy Basketball … a move that was needed and long overdue. When I see the picture of Mr. Iba shaking Coach Sutton’s hand at the press conference that day it is a remarkable image. The two most important figures in the history of Oklahoma State basketball shaking hands on the most significant day in the history of Oklahoma State basketball.
Today, Buzzard is a senior manager of administration/business in the OSU division of public safety.
Iba 'was so proud of his school and Sutton'
In 1990, Clay Henry covered the Sutton press conference for the Tulsa World.
Thirty years can darken the memory, but there is one vivid detail from the day Eddie Sutton was introduced as Oklahoma State basketball coach: all the smiles in Gallagher-Iba Arena.
The man smiling the most was Henry Iba, Sutton’s coach at OSU. Mr. Iba was a quiet and soft spoken gentleman when I had been around him the previous 12 years as a Tulsa World basketball writer.
Not that day. His voice rang loud and clear as he talked about what it meant for Sutton to return. That was both at the microphone to make the announcement and later in a brief one-on-one interview. He was so proud of his school and Sutton.
It was like that with anyone else in the arena that day. OSU people knew what was happening, a return to basketball greatness that had disappeared for decades.
It didn’t matter if you ran into someone from any sport — and all the OSU legends seemed to be there — or just a custodian, they were elated.
Alumni beamed and that included my mentor, Tulsa World Sports Editor Bill Connors. I rode to the event in Stillwater with Connors. Of course, Connors and Sutton were classmates at OSU. They loved each other and that was obvious.
Bill took me to Eddie’s new office before and after the ceremony. They didn’t hug. I never saw Bill do anything other than shake another man’s hand, but they were both clearly excited about the event.
The other thing that I recall was speculation all around the arena that the Cowboys were about to win big in basketball. They were all correct.
Today, Henry is a columnist at the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Before the press conference, Sutton told OSU media officials that he was going to be up front about his past
In 1990, Mike Strauss was the associate media relations director at OSU.
I remember talking with Oklahoma State media relations director Steve Buzzard and Eddie Sutton before the press conference. Steve and I were going to talk to Sutton about how the press conference would run and what to expect. I served as the basketball media relations director, but with only two years of experience in this position and with an announcement this big, I definitely took a secondary role. This was a special moment in Oklahoma State history and we knew it. You could see the joy and pride beaming from Henry Iba as one of his former players was returning home to take the reins of the program. Sutton wanted to make sure Mr. Iba was forefront in this announcement. Steve and I didn’t get too far in our conversation with Sutton before he told us he was going to be very upfront about his past and address his history before the media even asked him about it. I remember Sutton’s honesty, his aura, the way he commanded the room. I mainly remember looking at Mr. Iba that day and getting the feeling that this was the beginning of something great for Oklahoma State basketball and Oklahoma State athletics.
Today, Strauss is the media Relations manager at Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.
'His handshake was firm, his eye contact validated his respect for and investment in each person'
In 1990, Dave Martin was an assistant athletic director.
I knew that our university was hiring an OSU alumnus, former player and a disciple of Coach Henry Iba with stellar coaching credentials. And, while all of that was exceedingly true, with his hire I was introduced to, and then mentored by, one of the greatest statesmen Oklahoma State athletics has ever had. Coach would walk through the department, greeting everyone — often handing out T-shirts — then, sit down to chat about families. These “Coach Chats” often included him sharing some of the greatest basketball stories ever told. His handshake was firm, his eye contact validated his respect for and investment in each person. Whether he was encouraging his team in the art of defense (complete with football pads), meeting with his players one on one throughout the school week or bearing the responsibility of calling each of the families that lost loved ones in the tragic plane crash, he was passionately “loyal and true."
Today, Martin is an OSU senior associate athletic director.
'Coach liked to get after it'
Corey Williams played at OSU from 1988-1992. He was recruited and played for Leonard Hamilton but finished his career under Sutton.
After skipping Sutton's first team meeting, Williams was called into Sutton's office: I realized pretty quick that that isn’t going to fly with him. He said, "Next time you guys miss a meeting, you can find somewhere else to go." We knew right off the bat that he just didn’t play. I never missed another one.
On Sutton's practices: They were practices that I had never experienced before. Very detailed in terms of what he really wanted. Not just leaving a drill for the sake of time, but staying with it until you got it right.
On Sutton's coaching style: He knew how to push you and for the guys that were tough, you really thrived. But if you were soft you weren't gonna be successful. ... He wouldn’t let you take a play off at all. He made you pull from the inside when you didn’t feel like you had anything else. ... Coach liked to get after it.
Today, Williams is an assistant coach at the University of Arkansas.
'This guy is a real basketball coach'
In 1990, Pat Jones was the head football coach at Oklahoma State.
After Leonard Hamilton left and names were popping up, (then-OSU athletic director) Myron Roderick asked for my opinion on Eddie Sutton. I vividly remember saying, ‘In normal circumstances, Oklahoma State can’t hire anybody like Eddie Sutton. I’ve seen what he can do first hand. This guy is a real basketball coach. If the regents are OK with it and if we can get Eddie, then we’ve got to get him.’
Today, Jones is a radio host on The Sports Animal Tulsa.
Related: Jones helped Sutton land star player Sidney Moncrief at Arkansas
What Henry Iba said on April 11, 1990
On Sutton returning to Stillwater: "I'm so happy that Eddie and wife (Patsy) are back where they belong."
On the future under Sutton: "This man is in position to do so well if we support him. This is a great day for all of us."
What Sutton said on April 11, 1990
On his past struggles that includes struggles with alcohol: "I think at this point, I would say that there's a scripture that has sustained me through all of my adversity: 'All things work together for good to them that love the Lord.' "I have seen the fulfillment of the scripture in my life and I feel better prepared today to coach Oklahoma State University than any other time that I would have been given that opportunity."
On the possibility of becoming OSU's coach: "I was like a little boy on Christmas morning. I feel the same way now. I am excited."
On the OSU job: "This will be my last coaching job. I have no desire to coach anywhere else."
Tulsa World sports front page The April 12, 1990
The Tulsa World sports front page on April 12, 1990.
Bruce Plante cartoon: Sutton is elected into Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame
Bruce Plante's cartoon for the Tulsa World when Sutton was elected into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame.
Bill Haisten: An act of fairness: Naismith Hall of Fame voters finally say yes to Eddie Sutton
After being a finalist for the seventh time, Eddie Sutton finally becomes a Hall of Fame member. Read Bill Haisten's column here.
From the April 1990 archives
Bill Connors: Sutton scores first victory by putting rumors to rest
Re-invigorating the program starts now. Sutton off to a good a good start
Voices of Oklahoma: An interview with Eddie Sutton from 2010
Above: Eddie Sutton leaves the podium following his announcement of his retirement on May 19, 2006. Tulsa World file
Patrick Prince
Tulsa World Regional Digital Editor
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