Jennie Baranczyk named finalist for National Coach of the Year, as she becomes one of hottest names in women's basketball
The accolades continue to roll in for OU women’s basketball coach Jennie Baranczyk.
Baranczyk, who just finished her third season in Norman, was named a finalist for National Coach of the Year for a third consecutive year. She helped the Sooners win back-to-back Big 12 regular season titles and advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for a third straight season.
This past season was one of the best turnarounds in women’s college basketball, going from 7-5 in non-conference to 15-3 in one of the sport’s best conferences and ending the season with five top-25 wins, including beating top-five ranked Texas twice. It was an impressive feat for Baranczyk’s team, which had to replace four starters from last year’s squad.
Baranczyk’s success has made her one of the hottest names in the women’s basketball coaching world. She has been listed by some media outlets as a candidate for the Tennessee opening — considered one of the best jobs in women’s basketball.
OU, though, has been proactive in retaining Baranczyk since the season’s end. And that feeling is mutual, per sources, as both sides hope she remains in Norman for the long haul.
That might be because she has a team returning next season that could be her best. Leading scorer and Big 12 co-Player of the Year Skylar Vann will be back next season, as well as Big 12 Newcomer of the Year Payton Verhulst — both of whom were selected as All-American honorable mention honorees. Senior guards Lexy Keys and Nevaeh Tot also return, to go along with McDonald’s All-American freshman Sahara Williams.
Maybe 2025 will finally be the season that Baranczyk reaches the Sweet 16 — something Oklahoma hasn’t done since 2013.
