Sean Sutton Named Assistant At Oral Roberts

Oral Roberts basketball coach Scott Sutton said he couldn’t have hired a new assistant coach with more experience.

ORU confirmed Monday an earlier Tulsa World report that Sutton’s older brother and former Oklahoma State head coach Sean Sutton would join the Golden Eagles staff as a full-time assistant.

He replaces Chris Crutchfield, who left in May to join Lon Kruger’s new University of Oklahoma coaching staff.

Sean Sutton spent last season as an unpaid executive adviser to the ORU staff in his return to coaching following his descent into an addiction to painkillers after his forced resignation from the OSU helm in 2008.

“I’m excited. I had a great experience at ORU last year. It was fun being around Scott every day and interacting with his outstanding staff, Sean Sutton said.

ORU is a special place. I think so highly of (university president Mark Rutland) and (athletic director Mike Carter), and the chance to work with Scott on a full-time basis made it a very easy decision, Sean Sutton said.

Sean Sutton guided OSU to a 39-29 record over two seasons and spent the 13 years before that as a Cowboys assistant under his father, Eddie Sutton. In 2005, he was named Rivals.com basketball recruiter of the year.

At our level, it’s hard to hire someone with that type of experience, Scott Sutton said. I don’t think we could have hired a better person for the job. He did a great job last year, and now he’ll have full access to every aspect of the program.”

Carter said he conferred with Rutland and then pitched the idea to Scott Sutton.

“We thought it would be a great move for the program and for Sean, Carter said.

As an unpaid member of the staff last season, Sean Sutton traveled with the team, sat on the bench, interacted with the coaches, broke down film and was allowed to do virtually everything except recruit and directly interact with the athletes.

I think I’ll be able to contribute a lot more in actually getting to coach the players and also help in recruiting. That has always been one of my strengths, he said.

Sutton said he turned down one Division I head-coaching job and probably lost another because of his highly publicized battle with an addiction to painkillers.

(An unidentified) athletic director wanted to hire me, but he was not comfortable with the time that had elapsed with some of the things that have happened to me. And maybe enough time hasn’t elapsed for some other people. But I do want to be a head coach again, and I’ll know when it’s the right time and right place, he said.

Last August, Sutton pleaded guilty to four felony drug charges punishable by up to five or 10 years in prison. He is attempting to stay clean by sharing his story with recovery groups and other organizations. He will receive no jail time if he fulfills the requirements of a three-year deferred sentence.

, Sean Sutton Named Assistant At Oral Roberts

Tulsa World, Mike Brown

http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/article.aspx?subjectid=234&articleid=20110628_29_B1_CUTLIN158276

Oral Roberts basketball coach Scott Sutton said he couldn’t have hired a new assistant coach with more experience.

ORU confirmed Monday an earlier Tulsa World report that Sutton’s older brother and former Oklahoma State head coach Sean Sutton would join the Golden Eagles staff as a full-time assistant. He replaces Chris Crutchfield, who left in May to join Lon Kruger’s new University of Oklahoma coaching staff. Sean Sutton spent last season as an unpaid executive adviser to the ORU staff in his return to coaching following his descent into an addiction to painkillers after his forced resignation from the OSU helm in 2008. I’m excited. I had a great experience at ORU last year. It was fun being around Scott every day and interacting with his outstanding staff, Sean Sutton said. ORU is a special place. I think so highly of (university president Mark Rutland) and (athletic director Mike Carter), and the chance to work with Scott on a full-time basis made it a very easy decision, Sean Sutton said. Sean Sutton guided OSU to a 39-29 record over two seasons and spent the 13 years before that as a Cowboys assistant under his father, Eddie Sutton. In 2005, he was named Rivals.com basketball recruiter of the year. At our level, it’s hard to hire someone with that type of experience, Scott Sutton said. I don’t think we could have hired a better person for the job. He did a great job last year, and now he’ll have full access to every aspect of the program.” Carter said he conferred with Rutland and then pitched the idea to Scott Sutton. “We thought it would be a great move for the program and for Sean, Carter said. As an unpaid member of the staff last season, Sean Sutton traveled with the team, sat on the bench, interacted with the coaches, broke down film and was allowed to do virtually everything except recruit and directly interact with the athletes. I think I’ll be able to contribute a lot more in actually getting to coach the players and also help in recruiting. That has always been one of my strengths, he said. Sutton said he turned down one Division I head-coaching job and probably lost another because of his highly publicized battle with an addiction to painkillers. (An unidentified) athletic director wanted to hire me, but he was not comfortable with the time that had elapsed with some of the things that have happened to me. And maybe enough time hasn’t elapsed for some other people. But I do want to be a head coach again, and I’ll know when it’s the right time and right place, ” he said. Last August, Sutton pleaded guilty to four felony drug charges punishable by up to five or 10 years in prison. He is attempting to stay clean by sharing his story with recovery groups and other organizations. He will receive no jail time if he fulfills the requirements of a three-year deferred sentence.