Mitchel resigns Okarche coaching duties

Haley Mitchel is no longer a part of the program in which she’s had a major impact as both a player and coach over the span of two decades.

Mitchel informed Okarche Superintendent Josh Sumrall on Sunday that she was resigning her duties as girls basketball coach, effective immediately.

She made it official Monday night when she read a tearful, emotional resignation letter to the Okarche Board of Education members during their December regular meeting.

“With complete heartbreak, I will say that I believe today evil has trumped a school district and community that has had one of the richest traditions of excellence,” she told board members.

Joining Mitchel in resigning were both assistant coaches, Kaylene Ullom and Skye Tilley.

The coaches informed Sumrall of their decision on Sunday, one day after the Okarche teams completed play in a tournament in Leedey.

Sumrall and the coaches met with the girls basketball team on Sunday afternoon to break the news.

On Monday, it was announced that former Okarche head coach Larry Black would take over coaching duties.

“He will see them through this tough time of transition,” said Sumrall. “I anticipate this being the plan for the remainder of this season, but we will make sure the players/students are taken care of until something permanent is in place.”

The resignations don’t affect the teaching or administrative duties of the three coaches.

Mitchel is the curriculum director and assistant high school principal.

Ullom is a math specialist while Tilley just completed her student-teaching and is set to be hired as a full-time teacher for the second semester, Sumrall said.

Tilley is in her first year at Okarche and was hired to take over the softball program.

Ullom came to Okarche as an assistant for Kelli Jennings beginning in 2017-18. She was with Jennings for three seasons, then stayed on Mitchel’s staff when Mitchel was hired in 2020.

Mitchel - then Haley Myers - played four years at Okarche when her mother took over the program beginning in 2001-02.

The Lady Warriors were twice state runners-up during that stretch and made the state tournament all four seasons.

After college, Mitchel returned to her alma mater and served as an assistant coach for her mother.

“When I accepted a coaching position at Okarche 15 years ago, I never dreamed there’d be a day like today,” Mitchel said on Monday.

In those eight years with Mitchel as an assistant coach, Okarche reached the state title game six times and won three state championships.

Cherie Myers retired after the 2017 season and Mitchel stepped away from coaching.

After Jennings coached three seasons and accepted the NOC-Enid head coaching position, Sumrall named Mitchel the head coach.

Now in her fourth year, Mitchel compiled a 69-21 record.

The Lady Warriors reached the Class A state semifinals both in 2022 and 2023.

They are 4-4 this season and had just finished fourth at the South Canadian Classic in Leedey.

Sumrall confirmed to the Times & Free Press that an anonymous letter was sent to him and others within Okarche. Although he wouldn’t specify, Sumrall said the letter made allegations against the coaching staff.

“There’s nobody for us to talk to because it doesn’t name anyone, so we can’t follow up,” said Sumrall, stating he also turned over the letter to authorities.

Sumrall did state the letter referenced the recent lawsuit and settlement involving the school district and coaches in Kingfisher.

“It’s sad that precedence is set,” Sumrall said. “School personnel are under attack statewide and nationwide. Educators are not viewed the way they were 20 years ago.

“It’s a sad day in education.”

Much of that was echoed Monday night when a hand- of people spoke in the public participation portion of the board meeting.

They included parents of former players, spouses of coaches and community and business leaders, all in favor of Mitchel and her staff.

When she addressed the board, Mitchel talked about coming to Okarche with her mother in 2001 and then later as the place for her to begin her own teaching and coaching career.

“Being a part of the staff at Okarche is an absolute honor. The indivdiuals I work with in this school district are truly some of the best people in the state,” she said.

“Having the title as a coach at Okarche is something my family and I do not take lightly. We have always understood the expectations the community and parents have for their children and athletes.

“Being a former Lady Warriors myself, I have always taken the deepest pride in continuing a tradition that was built long before I was born.”

However, Mitchel continued, circumstances prompted her to make her heavy-hearted decision.

“The past few days have been some of the toughest days for my family and myself. My staff and I resigning as coaches is something we would never ever choose,” she said.

“The last thing I’d ever want to do is leave the girls I coach, and absolutely love, in the middle of a season.

“However, when threats have been made to destroy the reputation and lives of my family, coaching staff and myself, I believe there’s no other choice.

“The intentions the coaching staff has had for this program are clearly not being seen and therefore we cannot pursue our jobs.”

Black coached 12 years at Okarche - 10 of them as head coach of the girls program - before resigning after the 2001 season, which led to Myers’ hiring.

He went 204-80, guided the Lady Warriors to four state tournaments and two state runner-up finishes.

Okarche was a state semifi nalist in his last season.

Black has remained employed at Okarche in multiple capacities since resigning his basketball duties and currently teaches social studies classes part-time.

He will be joined by David Sanders in coaching the team. Sanders has won more than 1,000 wins and six state championships during a career that spanned more than four decades.

“Our first priority is to take care of our students and athletes,” Sumrall said. “We’ll do the best we can and it will be a daily process to see how we work through this.”

Okarche’s next game is Friday at Watonga.