Okarche in the hunt for girls basketball coach
After 3 successful seasons, Jennings opts to take over NOC Enid program
KELLI JENNINGS won more than 82 percent of her games and guided Okarche to the Class A semifinals twice in her three seasons. She recently accepted the position as womens coach for the NOC Enid program. [KT&FP Staff Photo]
It didn’t take Josh Sumrall long in his new job to start having to work on big personnel moves.
The Okarche superintendent officially took over for Rob Friesen on July 1 and on that day he was alerted he’d need to find a new music teacher and girls basketball coach as Ryan Siebert and Kelli Jennings, respectively, were pursuing other opportunities.
(Ed. note: Look for more on the Okarche music program in future editions.)
“That was pretty quick,” said Sumrall, who was hired in March to succeed Friesen, who took over the same position at Thomas-Fay-Custer.
Jennings’ call to Sumrall was to say she’d accepted an offer to coach girls basketball for Northern Oklahoma College Enid.
“It boiled down to if I didn’t take this opportunity now, it may never happen again and I would have wondered ‘what if,’” Jennings said.
Sumrall never officially worked with Jennings, but did watch her work when Okarche played in the Coyle basketball tournament each of the last three years, winning the title each time.
“She was always very professional and represented Okarche very well,” Sumrall said. “When we talked, she was worried about taking this job so late in the year, but I told her she needed to take care of herself first.”
Jennings had the unenviable task of following Cherie Myers, who coached Okarche to the most sustained success in the program’s history.
In Jennings’ three seasons, Okarche was 78-17 (.821) and advanced to the Class A semifinals in both 2018 and 2020.
In each of those seasons, it took the eventual state champ to knock the Lady Warriors from contention.
Okarche was 27-4 last season and was defeated 43-29 by Hydro-Eakly in the semifinals.
The season included an 18-game win streak and the Three Rivers Conference Tournament title among other highlights.
Okarche was 25-7 in 2018- 19. The Lady Warriors won four straight elimination games before being defeated by Hydro-Eakly in the area consolation championship.
Hydro-Eakly eventually reached the state final.
In Jennings’ first season, the Lady Warriors took No. 1 Seiling to the limit - and beyond - in the Class A semifinals.
Seiling eventually defeated Okarche 58-49 in double-overtime en route to winning its third of four consecutive state championships.
Okarche was 26-6 that year.
“I took the Okarche job because I wanted to coach girls who knew what it took to get to state and were willing to sacrifice to get there,” Jennings said. “I knew I worked as hard as I could during those three years and I’m so grateful I had girls who bought in so quickly and gave me the opportunity to coach them.
“I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
Jennings now takes over for yet another legend.
The Lady Jets have been coached for the last 19 seasons by Scott Morris, who is taking over as boys basketball coach at Stillwater High School.
Morris guided NOC Enid to a 460-154 record and five appearances in the NJCAA national tournament, including a Final Four spot in 2011.
“I told the committee I really felt the Lord has made my coaching path and that led me to this point,” Jennings said.
But taking the next step meant Jennings had to walk away from one of the most respected high school programs in the state.
“I mean this with all my heart,” Jennings said. “The easiest decision I ever made was coming to Okarche. Leaving was the hardest one I’ve ever made.”
As for Okarche, Sumrall hopes to have a new coach named by the end of this week.
“We’re working toward that as we speak,” he said.