The Oklahoma City University athletics department is spinning from a chain of events that has left staff, donors, alumni, and students wondering about the stability and integrity of leadership choices.
According to two emails obtained by The Campus, beginning on June 12, an email was sent at 8:18 a.m., officially stating the decision to relieve the head women’s basketball coach, Kris Seigenthaler. An official national search for the next head coach would ensue as soon as possible. Then, just one day later, on June 13 at 5:16 p.m., another email was sent stating Seigenthaler would remain the women’s basketball coach.
President Kenneth Evans reversed the decision on Coach Seigenthaler within 24 hours without explaining or providing reasoning to the athletic department. The Campus contacted Coach Seigenthaler for comment but did not receive a response.
Following the reversal, Corey Bray resigned from the athletic director position, making July 1 his official last day. Multiple anonymous sources close to the situation, who chose to remain unnamed due to the fear of repercussions, provided information on this matter.
The focus then shifted towards the search for a new athletic director.
Throughout the hiring process, athletics were kept in the dark about President Evans’s plan to fill the position. Evans chose to use a database known as registryinterim.com. The database is not chiefly used to hire for athletic positions, raising questions amongst staff and student-athletes. Of the job titles and positions listed on registryintermim.com, no athletics-based positions are listed. Ensuing decisions received no input from the returning athletic department members.
President Evans personally did not provide a comment but did have his communications team release the following statement:
“Everyone at Oklahoma City University, including myself and the leadership in the Athletics Department, is committed to providing an exceptional experience for our student-athletes and our entire university community. We work together to create a positive environment that sets the stage for personal growth and success on the field or court. When people raise potential issues with the Athletics Department, we carefully review the information and make plans to move forward, just as we would for any other area of the university. Everyone on our team is focused on fulfilling the mission of our university”.
Among the on-campus turmoil, an anonymous X account named OCUtruth had generated interest in the on-campus happenings before being shut down. The now-terminated X account voiced inconsistencies in the school’s leadership decisions and was a focal point of discussion on campus from June to late July.
In lighter news, Bill Raynor’s hiring as the new Interim Director of Athletics has inspired renewed optimism around the athletic department. Associate Athletic Director of Compliance and Academics Coby Mackin looks forward to having Mr. Raynor on board.
“Bill has breathed new life into our department, and we are very thankful for his wisdom, experience, and leadership, which are on the heels of a chaotic time.”
Originally from Boston, Raynor was excited to share why he accepted the offer to join OCU. “When I started doing my homework, and I learned about all of the success that I was unaware of, I thought, what a unique thing to be a part of history in that way, so then I became intrigued by it, and here I am.”
With almost four decades of experience in collegiate athletics, Raynor is regarded as an accomplished athlete, coach, educator, and author. He most recently held the athletic director position at MassBay Community College in Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts, from 2004 to 2017.
“I’d like to think that I could be a voice if you will, for coaches in terms of having administration understand what our coaches are thinking and feeling,” said Raynor as he reflected on the potential challenges he may face during his tenure at OCU.
Mr. Raynor’s vast experience, which started in 1978 at Harvard University, is anticipated to provide stability and leadership to OCU’s athletic department as the university continues to deal with issues related to transparency. Raynor has signed a contract until December, but an extension is possible.
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