Wednesday, 04 December 2024

Eddie Sutton

Contest: The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Coaches 2024
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Sport(s): Basketball
Statistics: 3 NCAA Division I Final Fours (1978, 1995 & 2004)
5 SWC Regular Season Championships (1977, 1978, 1979, 1981 & 1982)
3 SWC Tournament Wins (1977, 1979 & 1982)
1 SEC Regular Season (1986)
1 SEC Tournament Win (1986)
2 Big Eight Regular Season Championships (1992 & 1995)
1 Big Eight Tournament Win (1995)
1 Big 12 Regular Season Championship (2004)
2 Big 12 Tournament Wins (2004 & 2005)
2 AP Coach of the Year Awards (1978 & 1986)
1 NABC Coach of the Year Award (1986)
1 Henry Iba Award (1977)
4 SWC Coach of the Year Awards (1975, 1977, 1979 & 1981)
1 SEC Coach of the Year (1986)
1 Big Eight Coach of the Year (1993)
2 Big 12 Coach of the Year Awards (1998 & 2004)
346-210 NCAA Record
12-8 Division I Tournament Record
A two-time AP Coach of the Year, Eddie Sutton is one of a select few who broke through the 800-win threshold.

First becoming a head coach at Southern Idaho, Sutton moved on to Creighton in 1969, elevating the Blue Jays to a 23-7 season and a place in the NCAA Tournament. Sutton then moved to Arkansas, raising its program to where they made the Final Four in 1978 and nine consecutive tournaments where the Razorbacks made at least the second round.

After his time with Arkansas, Kentucky poached Sutton in 1985, where he again had tournament success, but that is not enough for a program like the Wildcats. Kentucky went 13-19 in 1988-89, and Sutton was let go, but he was far from done.

Sutton joined Oklahoma State in 1990, bringing them to the Final Four in both 1995 and 2004, with three conference tournament wins. Sutton never won the NCAA Tournament, but his overall body of work is worthy of consideration for this Hall of Fame.

We are proud to nominate Eddie Sutton for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.

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