Oral Roberts Golden Eagles

Last updated
Oral Roberts Golden Eagles
Oral Roberts Golden Eagles logo.svg
University Oral Roberts University
Conference Summit League
NCAA Division I
Athletic directorTim Johnson
Location Tulsa, Oklahoma
Varsity teams16
Basketball arena Mabee Center
Baseball stadium J. L. Johnson Stadium
MascotEli
NicknameGolden Eagles
ColorsNavy blue, Vegas gold, and white [1]
     
Website www.oruathletics.com
Summit League logo in Oral Roberts' colors Summit logo in Oral Roberts colors.svg
Summit League logo in Oral Roberts' colors

The Oral Roberts Golden Eagles are the sixteen intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Oral Roberts University, located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Golden Eagles compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level as a member of the Summit League, which it officially joined on July 1, 2014.[ citation needed ]

Contents

History

The Titans began play as an independent team in 1965. In 1971, the Titans moved up to Division I. From 1979 until 1987, the Titans were a member of the Midwestern Collegiate Conference. In 1989, they became an NAIA school. In 1991, they returned to Division I. The team joined the Mid-Continent Conference (now The Summit League) effective 1997. In 2012, the school joined the Southland Conference. In December 2013, ORU announced that it would return to the Summit League for all sports in 2014. [2]

As of 2009, ORU has had 22 players selected in the NBA draft, and 28 baseball All-Americans. Andretti Bain, who won a silver medal for The Bahamas as part of its 4 x 400 metres relay team at the 2008 Summer Olympics, also attended ORU. [3]

Sports sponsored

Men's sportsWomen's sports
Baseball Basketball
Basketball Cross country
Cross countryGolf
GolfSoccer
Soccer Tennis
TennisTrack and field†
Track and field†Volleyball
† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor

A member of the Summit League, Oral Roberts University sponsors teams in eight men's and eight women's NCAA sanctioned sports: [4]

Men's basketball

The men's basketball team reached the NCAA Elite Eight in the 1974 Tournament before losing to Kansas 90–93 in overtime, in what has been called "the most important basketball game ever played in Tulsa." [5] Most recently, the men's basketball team went to the 2021 NCAA tournament as the #15 seed, advancing as a cinderella to the Sweet 16, losing to #3 seeded Arkansas, 70–72.

In the 2006–07 season, on November 15, 2006, the unranked Oral Roberts basketball team stunned the #3 team in the nation, the University of Kansas, at the Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas, 78–71. The team went on to win the Mid-Con conference championship on March 6, 2007, defeating #2 seeded Oakland, overcoming an 11-point halftime deficit to win 71–67.

In 2008, the Golden Eagles captured their third consecutive Summit League title, receiving a 13 seed in the South Region of the NCAA tournament. The Golden Eagles lost to 4th-seeded Pittsburgh, 63–82.

Overview of team achievement

  • Overall Record of 907-641 (.586)
  • Six NCAA Tournament appearances
  • Eight NIT appearances
  • 17 total postseason tournament appearances
  • Six Summit League Regular Season Titles
  • Four Summit League Tournament Titles
  • Five Summit League Players of the Year
  • Two Summit League Defensive Player of the Year
  • Five Summit League Newcomers of the Year
  • Three Summit League Sixth Men of the Year
  • 2021 victories versus No. 2 Ohio State (72-75) and No. 7 Florida (78-81)
  • 2009 victories over Stanford, Missouri and No. 13 New Mexico
  • 2007 victory over Oklahoma State
  • 2006 victory at No. 3 Kansas
  • 1999 victory over Tulsa's Elite team
  • 21 First Team All-Summit League selections
  • Nine Second Team All-Summit League selections
  • 15 Summit League All-Newcomer selections
  • 14 Summit League All-Tournament selections
  • Four Mid-Con Championship game appearances
  • Three First Team All-Americans
  • Two Second Team All-Americans
  • Two Third Team All-Americans
  • 12 Honorable Mention All-Americans

Coaching staff

The Golden Eagles are currently coached by Paul Mills, who took over the program prior to the 2017-18 season.

Mills took over for Scott Sutton, who was the all-time winningest coach in ORU history with 328 wins (328-247) in 18 seasons. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Coaching Career Records Coach Tenure Yrs. Record Pct.

  • Bill White 1965–69 5 65–35 .650
  • Ken Trickey 1969–74, 87–93 11 214–116 .648
  • Jerry Hale 1974–77 3 61–21 .744
  • Lake Kelly 1977–79 2 30–24 .556
  • Ken Hayes 1979–83 4 50–43 .538
  • Dick Acres 1982–85 3 47–34 .580
  • Ted Owens 1985–87 2 21–35 .375
  • Bill Self 1993–97 4 55–54 .505
  • Barry Hinson 1997–99 2 36–23 .610
  • Scott Sutton 1999–2017 18 328-247 .570
  • Paul Mills 2017–pres

Baseball

The ORU baseball team has won the Mid-Con and Summit League tournament titles in 18 of the last 20 years, with the only exceptions being the 2013 and 2014 seasons in which ORU competed in the Southland Conference. In 2006, they advanced to the NCAA Super Regional. ORU continues to compete against regional rivals such as Arkansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, and Wichita State, as well as dominating the Summit League.

Notable players

Mike Moore was an ORU standout from 1979–81 and first-round draft pick. He played 14 seasons in the big leagues and was selected an American League All-Star in 1989. He played in consecutive World Series with Oakland (1989–90), winning a World Championship in 1989. Todd Burns (1982–84) was Moore's teammate in Oakland and helped the A's win three straight American League pennants (1988–90) and 1989 World Series. Keith Lockhart (1985–86) played in the 1999 World Series as a member of the Atlanta Braves and helped that team win five consecutive National League Eastern Division titles. Tom Nieto (1981) played in the 1985 world Series with St. Louis Cardinals and won a World championship in 1987 as a member of the Minnesota Twins. Doug Bernier, Michael Hollimon and Steve Holm all made their Major League debuts in 2008. Alex "Chi Chi" Gonzalez was drafted in the 1st round (23rd overall) in 2013 and made it to the Rangers lineup for his MLB debut May 30, 2015. Jose Trevino (6th round, 2014) and Matt Whatley (3rd round, 2017) were also drafted by the Texas Rangers.

Notable coaches

Former head coach Larry Cochell guided ORU from 1977–86, leading the school to seven NCAA Regional appearances and the 1978 College World Series. Former coach Sunny Golloway was one of the winningest active skippers in the NCAA Division I, guiding the Golden Eagles to a 294–136 record and five NCAA Regional appearances in seven years at the helm. He was an assistant coach for Team USA in the summer of 2002.

As first year head coach in 2004, Rob Walton guided ORU to the nation's best winning percentage (.820) while also setting a Summit League mark with a 50–11 overall record. The 2004 Golden Eagles were ranked in the Top 20 for 12 consecutive weeks, reaching a high of No. 13 in late May...Walton led ORU to its ninth consecutive Summit League Tournament title and the program's 18th NCAA Regional appearance in 2006. Walton also earned ABCA Midwest Region Coach of the Year honors after guiding the Golden Eagles to a regional championship and final Top 25 ranking in all three major, a program first. Walton also served as the head coach for USA Baseball's National Team during the summer of 2008.

Since taking over for Walton in 2013, Ryan Folmar led ORU to a 132-93 record and three NCAA Tournament berths in his first five years. In 2017, the Golden Eagles were 43-16 (25-4 Summit League) and beat Oklahoma State in the second game of the Fayetteville Regional in the NCAA Tournament.

NCAA First-Team All-Americans Selections

  • 1977 Bob Volk
  • 1978 Bill Springman
  • 1981 Mike Moore
  • 1981 Tom Nieto
  • 1982 Keith Mucha
  • 1984 Todd Burns
  • 1991 Robert Collins
  • 1999 Jeff Stallings
  • 2004 Dennis Bigley
  • 2008 Brian Van Kirk

Women's basketball

Having 4 conference championships under their belt in the 8 years since joining the Mid-Continent Conference (now The Summit League), the team has a solid reputation among fellow mid-major programs. Head coach Jerry Finkbeiner was hired in July 1996 and has delivered all four of the school's NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship appearances.

Women's soccer

The women's soccer team advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2004.

Memorable Players: Nicole Bucelluni, Tayah Schroter-Gillespie, Lindsay Ruisch, Michelle Hoogveld, Kellie Fenton

Men's soccer

Women's golf

Men's golf

Men's and women's cross country

Men's indoor track & field

A Golden Eagles men's hurdler in 2017 Oral Roberts 60-meter hurdles (cropped).jpg
A Golden Eagles men's hurdler in 2017

Men's outdoor track & field

Women's indoor track & field

Women's tennis

Men's tennis

Volleyball

Mascot

ORU's athletic teams for both men and women are known as the Golden Eagles, a change which became effective on April 30, 1993.

Originally, ORU's nicknames were the Titans for men and the Lady Titans for women. These monikers were adopted in 1965 by a vote of the student body, many of whom were from the East Coast or were either casual or serious New York Titans (now known as Jets) football fans. [6]

The nicknames endured until 1993, when a search for a new nickname was concluded with the selection of the Golden Eagles. ORU's new mascot, "Eli" the Golden Eagle, hatched out of his papier-mache egg on November 17, 1993, before the start of an exhibition basketball game. With this unveiling, the Golden Eagle nickname became the official symbol of a new era in ORU athletics.

Venues

The Golden Eagles basketball teams play at the Mabee Center. The baseball team plays at J. L. Johnson Stadium. The volleyball team plays at Cooper Aerobics Center. The soccer teams play at the ORU Soccer Complex. The golf teams play at Indian Springs Country Club.

Mabee Center

The Mabee Center, an outstanding collegiate arena, has been home to the Golden Eagles 1972. Mabee Center was built as an elliptical cable-suspension structure with basketball in mind. The arena has 10,575 permanent theater seats – with no obstacles to clear viewing. The splendid viewing and playing areas have drawn nine different national tournaments since the building opened. The Golden Eagles themselves played in the first NCAA tournament held here in 1974. Four other NCAA regionals (1975, 1978, 1982 and 1985) have been based at the Mabee Center. The National Invitation Tournament picked ORU as host four times (1977, 1980, 1982 and 1983).

J. L. Johnson Stadium

J. L. Johnson Stadium has been the home of Golden Eagles baseball since 1978. It hosted its first game on March 6, 1978.

In 2008, a 20,000-square-foot (1,900 m2) facility was added which includes coaches offices, a state-of-the-art weight room and the Grand Slam Room in which boosters and fans can watch ORU games in a climate-controlled environment. The facility is located down the right-field line.

Johnson Stadium has been host to three NCAA Regionals (1978,1980,1981), 14 conference tournaments, and many All-Americans. Many Major Leaguers have played at Johnson Stadium, including Roger Clemens, Joe Carter, Kirk Gibson, Tony Gwynn, Keith Lockhart, Pete Incaviglia, Kevin McReynolds, Mike Moore, and Robin Ventura.

H. A. Chapman Indoor Practice Facility

The H. A. Chapman Indoor Practice Facility opened in the Fall of 2009. The 35,000-square-foot (3,300 m2) facility, located just west of J. L. Johnson Stadium, features indoor practices areas for both baseball and track & field programs. Built at a cost of $1.2 million, the facility was funded exclusively through private donations, including a generous lead gift from the H. A. and Mary K. Chapman Charitable Trust. The baseball portion of the facility features a regulation-sized infield, three pitching areas and three netted batting cages. The track & field area features a complete pole vault area, high jump pit and long jump & triple jump practice areas.

Related Research Articles

Mabee Center is a 10,154-seat multi-purpose arena, located on the campus of Oral Roberts University, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States. The building opened in 1972 and was designed by architect Frank Wallace, who designed most of the buildings on the ORU campus. It carries the name of Tulsa oilman John Mabee, whose foundation donated $1 million toward its construction.

Scott Andrew Sutton is an American college basketball coach, currently an assistant coach at Oklahoma State. He was formerly the head coach at Oral Roberts, and is the all-time wins leader in school history while leading ORU to three NCAA Tournament, two National Invitational Tournament and two CollegeInsider.com Tournament postseason appearances in 14 seasons. The Golden Eagles had won 20 or more games in seven of the past 10 seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oral Roberts Golden Eagles men's basketball</span> Mens university basketball team in Tulsa, Oklahoma

The Oral Roberts Golden Eagles men's basketball team is the basketball team representing Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The team is a member of Summit League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oral Roberts Golden Eagles baseball</span>

The Oral Roberts Golden Eagles baseball team is the intercollegiate baseball team of Oral Roberts University. It plays in the NCAA Division I Summit League. The team won the Mid-Con and Summit League regular season and tournament titles for 15 years straight between 1998 and 2012. Upon returning to the Summit League, the team repeated the feat in 2015 and 2016. In 2006, they advanced to the NCAA Super Regional.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013–14 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2013–14 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles men's basketball team represented Oral Roberts University during the 2013–14 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Golden Eagles were led by 15th year head coach Scott Sutton and played their home games at the Mabee Center. They were members of the Southland Conference. They finished the season 17–16, 10–8 in Southland play to finish in a tie for sixth place. They advanced to the quarterfinals of the Southland Conference tournament where they lost to Sam Houston State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013–14 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles women's basketball team</span> Intercollegiate basketball season

The 2013–14 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles women's basketball team represented Oral Roberts University during the 2013–14 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Golden Eagles were led by 2nd year head coach Misti Cussen and played their home games at the Mabee Center. The 2013–14 season was the Golden Eagles' final season in the Southland Conference. Beginning with the 2014–15 season, the Golden Eagles will once again be competing in The Summit League after a two-year period as members of the Southland Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014–15 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2014–15 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles men's basketball team represented Oral Roberts University during the 2014–15 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Golden Eagles were led by 16th year head coach Scott Sutton and played their home games at the Mabee Center. They were members of The Summit League. They return to The Summit after only two seasons in the Southland Conference. They finished the season 19–15, 10–6 in The Summit League play to finish in third place. They advanced to the semifinals of The Summit League tournament where they lost to North Dakota State. They were invited to the College Basketball Invitational where they defeated UC Santa Barbara in the first round before losing in the second round to Loyola–Chicago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015–16 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2015–16 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles men's basketball team represented Oral Roberts University during the 2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Golden Eagles were led by 17th year head coach Scott Sutton and played their home games at the Mabee Center. They were members of The Summit League. They finished the season 14–17, 6–10 in Summit League play to finish in seventh place. They lost in the quarterfinals of The Summit League tournament to South Dakota State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016–17 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2016–17 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles men's basketball team represented Oral Roberts University during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Golden Eagles were led by 18th year head coach Scott Sutton and played their home games at the Mabee Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma as members of The Summit League. They finished the season 8–22, 4–12 in Summit League play to finish in last place. As a result, they failed to qualify for The Summit League tournament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017–18 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2017–18 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles men's basketball team represented Oral Roberts University during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Golden Eagles were led by first-year head coach Paul Mills and played their home games at the Mabee Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma as members of The Summit League. They finished the season 11–21, 5–9 in Summit League play to finish in a tie for fifth place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the Summit League tournament to Denver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018–19 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2018–19 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles men's basketball team represents Oral Roberts University during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Golden Eagles are led by second-year head coach Paul Mills and play their home games at the Mabee Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma as members of The Summit League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018–19 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles women's basketball team</span> Intercollegiate basketball season

The 2018–19 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles women's basketball team represented Oral Roberts University during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Golden Eagles were led by seventh year head coach Misti Cussen and play their home games at the Mabee Center. They were members of The Summit League. They finished the season 18–13, 10–6 in Summit League play to finish in a tie for third place. They advanced to the semifinals of the Summit League women's tournament where they lost to South Dakota State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020–21 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2020–21 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles men's basketball team represented Oral Roberts University in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Golden Eagles, led by fourth-year head coach Paul Mills, played their home games at the Mabee Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as members of the Summit League. They finished the season 18–11, 10–5 in Summit League Play to finish in 4th place. They defeated North Dakota, South Dakota State, and North Dakota State to be champions of the Summit League tournament. They received the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament where they upset Ohio State and Florida to advance to the Sweet Sixteen where they lost to Arkansas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Max Abmas</span> American basketball player

Maxwell Abmas is an American college basketball player for the Texas Longhorns of the Big 12 Conference. He previously played for four seasons at Oral Roberts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007–08 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2007–08 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles men's basketball team represented Oral Roberts University during the 2007–08 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Golden Eagles, led by 9th year head coach Scott Sutton, played their home games at the Mabee Center and were members of The Summit League. They finished the season 24–9, 16–2 in Summit League play to be crowned regular season champions. They won the Summit League tournament to receive an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as No. 13 seed in the South region. The Golden Eagles lost to No. 4 seed Pittsburgh in the opening round.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021–22 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles women's basketball team</span> Intercollegiate basketball season

The 2021–22 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles women's basketball represent Oral Roberts University in the 2021–22 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Golden Eagles, led by tenth year head coach Misti Cussen, compete in the Summit League. They play home games in Mabee Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021–22 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2021–22 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles men's basketball team represented Oral Roberts University in the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Golden Eagles, led by fifth-year head coach Paul Mills, played their home games at the Mabee Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as members of the Summit League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022–23 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles women's basketball team</span> Intercollegiate basketball season

The 2022–23 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles women's basketball represent Oral Roberts University in the 2022–23 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Golden Eagles, led by first year head coach Kelsi Musick, compete in the Summit League. They play home games in Mabee Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022–23 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2022–23 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles men's basketball team represented Oral Roberts University in the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Golden Eagles, led by sixth-year head coach Paul Mills, played their home games at the Mabee Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as members of the Summit League. They finished the season 30–5, 18–0 in Summit League play to win the regular season championship. They defeated North Dakota, St. Thomas, and North Dakota State to win the Summit League tournament championship. As a result, the received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 12 seed in the East region. There they lost to Duke in the first round.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010–11 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2010–11 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles men's basketball team represented Oral Roberts University in the 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Golden Eagles, led by head coach Scott Sutton, played their home games at the Mabee Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as members of The Summit League. The Golden Eagles finished 2nd in the Summit League during the regular season, and won two games in the Summit League tournament before losing in the championship game to regular-season Oakland.

References

  1. ↑ Color Standards (PDF). Oral Roberts Athletics Style Guide. August 20, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  2. ↑ James D. Cimburek, "Oral Roberts: Why Did They Leave The Summit In The First Place?", Yankton Press and Dakotan, December 5, 2013.
  3. ↑ Jimmie Tramel, "Local sports loses great friend in Oral Roberts", Tulsa World , December 18, 2009.
  4. ↑ "Oral Roberts Golden Eagles". Oral Roberts University. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  5. ↑ Bill Haisten, "Miracle Makers: 1974 NCAA loss to Kansas was a milestone event for ORU", Tulsa World , April 2, 2009.
  6. ↑ 2011–12 ORU Women's Basketball FactBook, 10/18/2011
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