Officials at Oklahoma State are expected to announce Wednesday that Sean Sutton will succeed his father as head coach of Oklahoma State's basketball team.
Head coach Eddie Sutton has made no mention of retirement, but university officials have scheduled the press conference to end speculation that the younger Sutton could be taking over the basketball program, the Tulsa World reported.
Athletic director Harry Birdwell is expected to ask OSU regents at a June 18 meeting for permission to begin contract negotiations with Sean Sutton.
Eddie Sutton, 68, has said he'd like to win 800 games before retiring, making him the fifth men's college basketball to earn the honor. With 755 victories, he's 45 wins shy of that mark, which would put him in a class with North Carolina's Dean Smith, Kentucky's Adolph Rupp, Texas Tech's Bob Knight and Mount Saint Mary's Jim Phelan.
"I really believe my dad will coach at least another two years, maybe longer," Sean Sutton said recently.
"Anybody that thinks he's on the verge of hanging it up, that's far from the truth. I'd be shocked if he's not coaching next year."
Sean Sutton, who played for his father at Kentucky and Oklahoma State, has been an assistant at Oklahoma State for 11 years. He was named associate head coach in 2000.
While it's rare for a new head coach to be named before the present coach is to retire, Sean Sutton, 35, is the logical successor, officials said.
The Oklahoman reported that Birdwell conducted a yearlong search to find a replacement for Eddie Sutton, and found Sean Sutton to be the best choice.
Last season the father and son coaching team took the Cowboys to the Final Four, losing 67-65 to Georgia Tech in the national semifinals. The team finished the season at 31-4.
After the loss, Eddie Sutton assured fans he'd be back.
"No, it's not my last game," Sutton said then.
