Oklahoma State, Jim Littell part ways

Oklahoma State announced today that they will be parting ways with women’s basketball head coach Jim Littell at the conclusion of this season.

Littell, 66, has been with the Oklahoma State program since 2005 as an assistant head coach and became the head coach following the tragic plane crash and death of Kurt Budke on November 17th, 2011. That year, Littell would lead the Oklahoma State Cowgirls to become the WNIT Champions defeating James Madison to win the championship game.

Littell has appeared in six of his 11 seasons at the helm but only appeared in the Sweet Sixteen once, in the 2013-14 season. Overall, Littell’s record at Oklahoma State was 203-139 and was 92-106 in Big 12 play. Out of the six Cowgirls drafted into the WNBA, five were under the watch of Jim Littell, including Natasha Mack, who was drafted in the second round last year. He also coached the only Big 12 Player of the Year from Oklahoma State, Brittney Martin.

This decision was a mutual one. According to the press release, Oklahoma State sent out this afternoon. Both Athletic Director Chad Weiberg and Jim Littell both agreed that this move was “best for the program.”

The Cowgirls will head to Kansas City as the number nine seed in the conference tournament, taking on Texas Tech. That game will be on Thursday, March 10 at 5:30 pm on ESPN+.