The Oklahoma Coaches Association (OCA) has announced its 2025 Hall of Fame inductees, honoring 13 individuals for their outstanding contributions to high school athletics. The induction ceremony and banquet will take place at the Southern Hills Marriott Hotel in Tulsa this Saturday at 6:30 p.m. during the annual OCA Coaches Clinic and All-State week.
This year’s inductees are recognized under two categories: the Coaches Hall of Fame, which honors those with at least 15 years as a head coach or 25 years as a head coach, head junior high coach, or assistant coach, and the Distinguished Service Award, which acknowledges individuals who have significantly contributed to Oklahoma athletics in other capacities.
Among the 2025 inductees are several coaches with strong ties to Okmulgee and Okmulgee County, including Ted Clement, Bob Craig and Rick Patterson.
— Ted Clement: A Legacy of Basketball Excellence
Ted Clement, who led the Muskogee Roughers to their only state basketball championship in 1975, is being honored for his remarkable coaching career. Clement’s impact in Okmulgee dates back to his tenure at Dunbar High School, where he guided the team to the Class A State Runner-Up title in 1969. After Dunbar’s integration into Okmulgee High School in 1970, Clement transitioned to Muskogee, where he spent over a decade building a powerhouse basketball program.
Clement compiled an impressive 279-109 record as Muskogee’s head coach and was instrumental in the Roughers’ historic championship run. His 1978 team, which finished 24-4, is still regarded as one of the best in school history. Clement, who was previously inducted into the Oklahoma Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame, now adds the OCA Hall of Fame to his list of prestigious honors.
— Coach Theodore Clement – Mentor, Coach and Administrator Coach Theodore Clement is a revered figure in Oklahoma’s athletic and educational history, known for his outstanding contributions as both a coach and an administrator. Clement graduated from Dunbar High School in 1956. He continued his education at Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Ark., a school known for producing numerous prominent basketball and football players.
After completing his college degree, Clement began his coaching career in Tillar, Ark. However, a pivotal promise made years earlier by esteemed educator C.A. Jackson brought him back to his roots. “He told me that when I graduated from college, he would bring me back home to Dunbar to coachand he did,” Clement once recalled. That promise launched his notable tenure at Dunbar High School.
From 1964 until the school’s closure due to integration in 1969, Clement served as head basketball coach for the Dunbar Tigers. Under his leadership, the Tigers achieved great success, culminating in a runner-up finish at the 1969 state Class A tournament. Clement was the last head basketball coach at Dunbar before its closure.
The following year, Clement was hired as an assistant coach at Muskogee High School. His coaching prowess continued to shine-leading his teams to the state tournament in 12 of his 15 years there. In recognition of his tremendous coaching achievements, he was inducted into the Oklahoma Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2018.
Clement retired from coaching in 1986 but continued to serve in educational leadership roles. He worked as assistant principal and later principal at Alice Robertson Middle School, and eventually became principal at Muskogee High School.
After retiring from public education, Clement moved to Cordova, Tenn., where he remained active in school administration until his final retirement in 2013.
Years later, Clement returned to Okmulgee, where the legacy of his 1969 Dunbar Tigers basketball team was honored by then-Mayor Steven Baldridge, celebrating their historic run to the state championship.
Coach Clement’s legacy is defined by excellence, dedication and a lifelong commitment to shaping young lives both on and off the court.
— Bob Craig: A Career Spanning Multiple Programs Bob Craig is another esteemed inductee with Okmulgee County connections. Craig had two coaching stints at Beggs High School and also led programs at Collinsville, Pawhuska and Nowata. Over his career, Craig amassed 96 victories, demonstrating his ability to build and sustain competitive teams across various programs. His contributions to Oklahoma high school football have left a lasting mark, particularly in Beggs, where he played a vital role in shaping the program’s success.
— Rick Patterson: A Championship-Winning Football Coach Rick Patterson is being recognized for his successful tenure as a high school football coach, which includes two state championships in ten seasons at Morris High School. Patterson also held coaching positions at Nathan Hale and Hilldale, helping to develop strong football programs at each stop. His leadership at Morris cemented his reputation as one of the premier high school football coaches in the state. Patterson’s induction into the OCA Hall of Fame is a well-earned acknowledgment of his impact on Oklahoma high school athletics.
— Additional Inductees
• Duke Atterberry (Pawhuska)
• Mike Corley (Carl Albert)
• Joe Gordon (Wagoner)
• Steve Hesser (Bartlesville)
• Harold Jones (Dale)
• Randall King (Broken Arrow)
• Steve Lykes (Piedmont)
• Matt Surber (Tuttle)
• Virgil Terry (Sallisaw) Receiving the Distinguished Service honor is Randy Gipson, a longtime women’s basketball coach at Northeastern State University.
The OCA Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on July 26 at the Southern Hills Marriott Hotel in Tulsa. The event is a highlight of the annual OCA Coaches Clinic and All-State week, celebrating the accomplishments of the state’s most influential high school coaches.
The Oklahoma Coaches Association Hall of Fame recognizes those who have made lasting contributions to high school sports, and this year’s class, particularly those with ties to Okmulgee County, represents the best in coaching excellence. Their dedication to shaping student-athletes and building successful programs has left an indelible impact on Oklahoma’s athletic landscape.
