Stephenson leaves Shockers for OU baseball post

Wichita State baseball coach Gene Stephenson, who will become Oklahoma's next baseball coach on Monday, ranks first among NCAA Division 1 coaches in winning percentage and second in wins. In his 28 seasons in Wichita, Stephenson compiled a 1,506-489-3 record.

OUInsider.com has learned that Wichita State baseball coach Gene Stephenson has accepted the head coaching position at the University of Oklahoma.

Stephenson, who has spent the last 28 years at Wichita State, will be announced as Larry Cochell's replacement officially on Monday.

Sources also tell OUInsider.com that Stephenson will bring current assistant coaches Brent Kemnitz and Jim Thomas with him to Norman. Kemnitz has served as the pitching coach at Wichita State for the past 27 seasons, while Thomas has been on Stephenson's staff as the hitting coach for 13 years.

Stephenson, whose Shockers finished 51-24 last season, is currently first among NCAA Division 1 coaches in winning percentage (.754) and second in wins (1,506). He has led the Shockers to a national title in 1989, two other title game apperances and 23 NCAA Tournament berths.

A native of Guthrie Okla., Stephenson graduated from the University of Missouri and and spent five years as an assistant to Enos Seymore at Oklahoma before taking over the Wichita State program.