Oklahoma Sooners head coach Jennie Baranczyk is extremely happy with where she’s at as a coach. That stands true regardless of any rumors or outside noise about what she should do with her future.
Rumors about Baranczyk began around the time Lisa Bluder, the Iowa head coach, decided to retire. For many, it only made sense for Baranczyk to return to her alma mater. However, she appeared to shut down that idea, saying she’s extremely happy at Oklahoma.
“I have never worried about where other people think you should go,” Jennie Baranczyk said. “When I got to Drake, I thought I was gonna be at Drake forever, and that was something that I felt like we could build that team and that program. Obviously, as time went on and sometimes things change a little, I knew it was time to go. But I didn’t know I could find a place I love as much as I loved Drake, and I found that in Oklahoma.”
Jennie Baranczyk played at Iowa until 2004. She almost immediately then got into coaching the women’s game and by 2012 was the head coach at Drake. She was there for nine years before making the move to Oklahoma.
“It’s kind of like when you have your first child. You don’t think you could ever love another child as much as you could possibly love that child. Then, you have another one. The third one breaks you. So, I know that. You just go to two places and you stay,” Baranczyk said.
“Honestly, I love it here. I love our administration. They’re so supportive. They allow us to grow, they allow us to fall down. Obviously, you got to see that this season. You got to see us really understand growth and process. I love the people here. I love what we can do here. Even through the chaotic kind of scary time that no one knows what the future is going to hold for college athletics — we’re in this pivotal time and it’s messy and it’s not clear and we don’t know. In 10 years we’re gonna know what we should have done during this time but when you can trust in your leadership and your president and your athletic director, I think you don’t get that in places.”
Since getting to Oklahoma in 2021, Jennie Baranczyk has led the Sooners to the Women’s NCAA Tournament three different times. In each appearance, Oklahoma has made it to the second round.
Baranczyk is looking to help take Oklahoma to the next level now. Luckily, she is able to have all the resources she needs at Oklahoma.
“You don’t get really high integrity with the people, you don’t get passionate fanbases. You don’t get a brand of Oklahoma athletics. It’s a big deal. So, I think that’s what we love. I love that the coaches support. There’s an abundance here. Nobody hurts anybody to get what they need. Everybody is doing what they can to be as successful as they can. We want softball to win. Look at what baseball did. How amazing and we want them to get back to the World Series. Tennis. Golf. We just have these great coaches and these great people and these great programs,” Baranczyk said.
“To me, it’s less about what makes this place so great, it’s why would you ever leave? I know we’ve had situations, but I love it and I continue to love it.”
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