Joe Castiglione & Sherri Coale Named To Oklahoma Hall Of Fame

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – MAY 21, 2026 – During a luncheon at the Gaylord-Pickens Museum today, the Oklahoma Hall of Fame announced the Class of 2026 Honorees who will receive the state's highest honor this November. Oklahoma Hall of Fame Member J.C. Watts, Jr. and Board Member D. Scott Petty served as Masters of Ceremony. Oklahoma Hall of Fame Member Martha Burger provided the invocation.

The Honorees in the Oklahoma Hall of Fame Class of 2026 are:

Shannon L. Rich, President & CEO of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, shared her excitement for this year's class of Honorees:

"These remarkable individuals represent every corner of our state, and they each demonstrate the incredible spirit that makes Oklahoma and its people so special. We cannot wait to celebrate the impact they have made in this 99th year of presenting Oklahoma's Highest Honor. These are the stories that continue to inspire a bright future for our state."

The Class of 2026 will be inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame on Thursday, November 12 at the Oklahoma City Convention Center. Tickets to the 99th Annual Oklahoma Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be available to the public starting at the end of August at www.oklahomahof.com.

For information about purchasing a table at the Induction Ceremony or making a nomination for the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, contact Melissa Brown, Director of Board & Inductee Relations at 405.523.3209 or [email protected].

JOSEPH R. CASTIGLIONE | Norman

Joe Castiglione has been the architect of one of the most successful and admired athletics programs in college sports history. Since arriving at the University of Oklahoma (OU) in 1998, he has led the Sooners through an era defined by championships, innovation, and national leadership.

Under his direction, OU teams have captured 26 national championships and 117 conference titles, achievements that reflect both competitive excellence and a deep commitment to student-athlete development.

Castiglione’s impact is rooted in bold, forward-thinking leadership. His landmark hire of Bob Stoops in 1998 reignited Oklahoma football and produced the 2000 national championship, setting the tone for a culture built on integrity, accountability, and high performance.

He has overseen transformative facility upgrades, record-setting fundraising, and a comprehensive approach to student-athlete support that has become a model across the country.

Nationally, Castiglione is recognized as one of the most influential voices in collegiate athletics. He is the only athletics director to serve on the College Football Playoff Selection Committee, as well as the NCAA Men’s Basketball and NCAA Baseball committees.

His steady guidance was instrumental in navigating OU’s historic move to the SEC, one of the most significant conference realignments of the modern era.

After nearly three decades of leadership, Castiglione will transition to Athletics Director Emeritus following the 2025–2026 academic year.

His legacy is defined by vision, competitive success, and a relentless commitment to elevating the University of Oklahoma on every stage.

SHERRI COALE | Healdton

A native Oklahoman, Sherri Coale is a graduate of Healdton High School and Oklahoma Christian College, earning a BSE and graduating summa cum laude. She earned a master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1996.

After an extraordinarily successful collegiate playing career, Coale moved from the court to the sideline as she began what would become a hall of fame career as a women’s basketball coach.

After seven years and two state championships as the head coach at Norman High School, Coale was hired to re-build the women’s basketball program at the University of Oklahoma. During her 25-year career at OU, she led the Sooners to 19 straight NCAA tournament appearances, ten conferences titles, and three Final Fours.

Coale also led Team USA to a gold medal victory over Russia in 2015. She is a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Christian Hall of Fame, and the FCA Circle of Champions.

In the spring of 2026, she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Oklahoma. She has served as president of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and the Kay Yow Foundation and currently serves as a board trustee at Oklahoma Christian University.

Coale has written two books, Rooted to Rise and The Compost File. She continues to write and is a highly respected keynote speaker and leadership consultant.

Coale and her husband, Dane, have two children, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, and two granddaughters.

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ABOUT THE OKLAHOMA HALL OF FAME:

Founded in 1927, the Oklahoma Hall of Fame tells Oklahoma’s story through its people. From diverse statewide programming to the historic Gaylord-Pickens Museum, the organization creates an enhanced sense of pride for all Oklahomans. The Oklahoma Hall of Fame was created to honor extraordinary Oklahomans and to provide educational programming for students of all ages. Induction to the Oklahoma Hall of Fame is recognized as Oklahoma’s Highest Honor. For more information, visit www.oklahomahof.com.