Eddie Sutton was an American college basketball coach who led four schools to the NCAA tournament, including three Final Four appearances. He was among only eight NCAA Division I coaches with over 800 career wins. He was also inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in 2020. This article will explore Eddie Sutton life, career, and achievements.
Eddie Sutton: Early Life and Education
He grew up in a poor and rural area, where he developed a love for basketball. He played as a guard for his high school team and earned a scholarship to Oklahoma A&M College (later Oklahoma State University) in Stillwater. He played for the legendary coach Henry Iba from 1955 to 1958 and was part of a team that reached the NCAA tournament in his senior year.
Coaching Career
Sutton started his career as a graduate assistant at Oklahoma State under Iba. He then coached at Tulsa Central High School for seven years, winning four state championships. He moved to the junior college in 1966, coaching at the College of Southern Idaho for three years and winning two national titles.
Sutton debuted as a Division I head coach 1969 at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. He coached there for five seasons, leading the Bluejays to two NCAA tournament appearances and one National Invitation Tournament (NIT) appearance.
In 1974, Sutton moved to the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where he stayed for 11 seasons. He turned the Razorbacks into a powerhouse in the Southwest Conference (SWC), winning five regular season and three tournament titles. He also led them to nine NCAA tournament appearances, including a Final Four appearance 1978. He was named the National Coach of the Year by the Associated Press (AP) and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) in 1978.
In 1985, Sutton left Arkansas to coach at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, where he faced high expectations and pressure. He won the Southeastern Conference (SEC) regular season and tournament titles in his first season and was named the AP National Coach of the Year again. However, he also faced controversy and scandal, as his program was accused of recruiting violations and academic fraud. He resigned in 1989 after four seasons and a record of 88-39.
In 1990, Sutton returned to his alma mater, Oklahoma State, where he coached for 16 seasons. He revived the Cowboys’ program, leading them to 13 NCAA tournament appearances, including two Final Four appearances in 1995 and 2004. He also won two Big Eight Conference regular season titles, one Big Eight tournament title, one Big 12 Conference regular season title, and two Big 12 tournament titles. He was named the Big Eight Coach of the Year in 1993.
2006 Sutton retired from Oklahoma State after a car accident that revealed his alcohol problems. He had a record of 368-151 at Oklahoma State, and a total record of 806-326 at the Division I level 2.
Conclusion:
Sutton was married to Patsy Sutton from 1959 until she died in 2013. They had three sons: Steve, Sean, and Scott. All three sons followed their father’s footsteps and became basketball coaches. Sutton died on May 23, 2020, at his home in Tulsa, Oklahoma, due to natural causes. He was 84 years old. His sons and their families surrounded him. His death was mourned by many former players, coaches, fans, and friends who paid tribute to his legacy and impact on basketball.
