OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University has chosen Dionne Phelps to become its head men's basketball coach.
Phelps joins the Stars after being associated with several successful programs. Phelps most recently served as assistant coach on Oklahoma's staff these past five seasons.
“At Oklahoma City University we look for coaches who exemplify our university's core values on and off the court, and Dionne Phelps certainly does that,” Oklahoma City University President Robert Henry said. “He will inspire our young men to compete hard and to become true athletes, scholars and gentlemen. Our Stars will shine even brighter under the tutelage of Coach Phelps. We welcome him to the OCU family.”
Phelps' 22-year career coaching basketball includes experience at Texas-San Antonio, Texas State, Baylor and Texas Lutheran. Phelps has been a part of four conference championship teams and three NCAA Tournament squads.
At Oklahoma, Phelps contributed to the Sooners' NCAA Tournament teams in 2008 and 2009, including OU's Elite Eight appearance in 2009. Oklahoma went 96-69 during Phelps' time on its staff. The 2008-09 Sooners went 30-6 led by eventual No. 1 overall NBA Draft pick Blake Griffin.
“I'm really excited about what Dionne Phelps brings to Oklahoma City University,” OCU athletic director Jim Abbott said. “We have a legacy of great coaches from Abe Lemons to Ray Harper, and Dionne fits the same mold. I'm impressed with his energy and enthusiasm for the position, and I'm convinced that he can recruit the kind of student-athletes that will succeed academically and athletically on our campus.”
Phelps has experience playing on the NAIA level for Texas Lutheran.
“I'm very, very excited,” Phelps said. “I've always admired the program and the rich tradition at Oklahoma City University. This is exactly where I wanted to be and in the environment I was looking for.”
His most recent coaching stint prior to Oklahoma occurred at Texas-San Antonio, where he worked with frontcourt players from the 2003-06. He helped UTSA to the 2004 Southland Conference regular-season and tournament titles as well as an NCAA Tournament berth. He served as associate head coach his final year with the Roadrunners.
“Oklahoma City University is very, very, very fortunate to have him as its head coach,” South Carolina State coach Tim Carter said of Phelps. “I think the world of him. I think he is not only a terrific basketball coach, but a great person as well. I could not be happier for him. Dionne was my associate head coach at Texas-San Antonio for three years. I thought so much of Dionne that I made him my associate head coach. He was the first assistant I gave that title to, and I have had assistants move on to Kentucky, Oregon, Cincinnati, Auburn and Colorado State. Without a doubt, he is the absolute best assistant I ever had.”
Prior to working at UTSA, Phelps spent four seasons as an assistant at Texas State (1999-03), one at Baylor (1998-99) and eight at his alma mater, Texas Lutheran (1989-93 and 1994-98). At Texas Lutheran, Phelps helped the Bulldogs to a pair of Heartland Conference regular-season championships.
Phelps played collegiately at Texas Lutheran and was inducted into the Bulldog Athletic Hall of Honors in 2002 following a career that saw him earn 1988 Big State All-Conference and all-district accolades, as well as 1989 Heart of Texas All-Conference recognition. He graduated in 1989 with a bachelor of arts degree in physical education.
A San Antonio native who is a 1985 graduate of Judson High School in Converse, Texas, Phelps also earned a master's degree in education from Texas State in 1996.
He and his wife, Lisa, have daughter, Aaliyah, and a son, Garrison.
Oklahoma City University owns one of the nation's most storied men's basketball programs. Among the program's accomplishments:
· Six NAIA Division I national championships (1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 2007, 2008)
· 11 Sooner Athletic Conference regular-season championships (1987, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2008)
· Eight Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament titles (1994, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2008)
· 19 national-tournament appearances, including 11 consecutive from 1998-2008
Oklahoma City University has captured 39 national championships in all sports.
