Coach Of The Year – Jeff Edmonson
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The dust has settled from the 2023 state tournaments and we’re starting our postseason coverage throughout the rest of the month. This week, we’re featuring some of the best of the best in Oklahoma. From the Player and Freshman Of The Year to this post, featuring the Coach Of The Year. After a great season all across Oklahoma, there were several really good candidates between the state champion coaches and coaches of teams that exceeded all expectations back in October and November. But when it came down to the winner, only one team finished this season with a perfect record so we had to give the nod to Dale head coach Jeff Edmonson.
The Dale Pirates came into this season with lofty expectations after capturing a state championship last March. Led by their junior star Dayton Forsythe Dayton Forsythe 6'3" | PG Dale | 2024 State #206 Nation OK and all five starters returning, the Pirates were heavy favorites to repeat as state champions. And even despite those expectations, the Pirates exceeded them by going undefeated and dominating the Class 2A state tournament like no team in recent memory.
And while the Pirates might get dinged around the state for being in Class 2A and the competition not being what larger schools see, look at the schedule that Dale played this season. They tested themselves against some of the best teams in the state with their regular season schedule as well as the tournaments that they participated in. The Pirates got everyone’s attention when they went to Tulsa in late December and walked away with the Tournament Of Champions title after beating Union, Crossings Christian and Memorial in three consecutive days.
And the Pirates didn’t just capture another gold ball earlier this month. They left no doubts as they absolutely smashed every opponent standing in the way between them and another state championship. In the regional title game, they faced Cashion in a state championship rematch from last year and won by 53 points. They would move on to the area final against #5 Colcord and would punch their ticket to the state tournament with another 53-point win.
The Pirates would open up the state tournament with a 38-point victory over Wister in the quarterfinals. Then they would face #8 Pocola in the semifinals and were in a fight for just one quarter. But the Pirates would make it to another state championship game with a 17-point win. The same thing would happen on Saturday as Dale got the most from Oklahoma Christian Academy after one quarter. But it was all Dale after that as they would win by 26 points, leaving no doubt that they were the best of the best in Class 2A and they are in the conversation for the best team in the state, regardless of class.
For me, what puts Edmonson over the top is just how dominant this team is. And alternative universes are pointless for the most part but we believe that if you took Forsythe off this team, they still win the 2A title. Do they go undefeated? Probably not. But this team was much more than Forsythe and it showed plenty of times throughout the season. The Pirates have now won 39 games in a row and they don’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. In addition to Forsythe, the Pirates bring back all five starters once again next season. They’ll once again be the heavy favorites in Class 2A, they’ll once again challenge themselves with a tough schedule, and Edmonson will have them ready for that challenge as the target gets bigger and bigger.