The Oral Roberts Golden Eagles are the sixteen intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Oral Roberts University, located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Golden Eagles compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level as a member of the Summit League, which it officially joined on July 1, 2014.
History The Titans began competition as an independent team in 1965 and moved up to NCAA Division I in 1971. From 1979 to 1987, the Titans competed in the Midwestern Collegiate Conference. In 1989, the program transitioned to the NAIA before returning to NCAA Division I in 1991. The team joined the Mid-Continent Conference (now known as The Summit League) in 1997. In 2012, Oral Roberts University joined the Southland Conference, but in December 2013, it announced a return to The Summit League for all sports beginning in 2014.James D. Cimburek, "Oral Roberts: Why Did They Leave The Summit In The First Place?", Yankton Press and Dakotan, December 5, 2013. Notable alumnus Andretti Bain won a silver medal for The Bahamas in the 4 x 400 metres relay at the 2008 Summer Olympics.Jimmie Tramel, "Local sports loses great friend in Oral Roberts", Tulsa World, December 18, 2009.
Sports sponsored
Baseball Basketball Basketball Cross country Cross country Golf Golf Soccer Soccer Tennis Tennis Track and field† Track and field† Volleyball
A member of the Summit League, Oral Roberts University sponsors teams in eight men's and eight women's NCAA sanctioned sports:
Men's basketball
The men's basketball team reached the NCAA Elite Eight in the 1974 Tournament before losing to Kansas 90–93 in overtime, in what has been called "the most important basketball game ever played in Tulsa."Bill Haisten, "Miracle Makers: 1974 NCAA loss to Kansas was a milestone event for ORU", Tulsa World, April 2, 2009. Most recently, the men's basketball team went to the 2021 NCAA tournament as the #15 seed, advancing as a cinderella to the Sweet 16, losing to #3 seeded Arkansas, 70–72.
In the 2006–07 season, on November 15, 2006, the unranked Oral Roberts basketball team stunned the #3 team in the nation, the University of Kansas, at the Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas, 78–71. The team went on to win the Mid-Con conference championship on March 6, 2007, defeating #2 seeded Oakland, overcoming an 11-point halftime deficit to win 71–67.
In 2008, the Golden Eagles captured their third consecutive Summit League title, receiving a 13 seed in the South Region of the NCAA tournament. The Golden Eagles lost to 4th-seeded Pittsburgh, 63–82.
Overview of team achievement Overall Record of 907-641 (.586) Six NCAA Tournament appearances Eight NIT appearances 17 total postseason tournament appearances Six Summit League Regular Season Titles Four Summit League Tournament Titles Five Summit League Players of the Year Two Summit League Defensive Player of the Year Five Summit League Newcomers of the Year Three Summit League Sixth Men of the Year 2021 victories versus No. 2 Ohio State (72-75) and No. 7 Florida (78-81) 2009 victories over Stanford, Missouri and No. 13 New Mexico 2007 victory over Oklahoma State 2006 victory at No. 3 Kansas 1999 victory over Tulsa's Elite team 21 First Team All-Summit League selections Nine Second Team All-Summit League selections 15 Summit League All-Newcomer selections 14 Summit League All-Tournament selections Four Mid-Con Championship game appearances Three First Team All-Americans Two Second Team All-Americans Two Third Team All-Americans 12 Honorable Mention All-Americans
Coaching staff The Golden Eagles are currently coached by Kory Barnett, who took over the program prior to the 2025-26 season. Barnett replaces Russell Springmann, who lead the program for two years, with losing records in each.
Coaching Career Records Coach Tenure Yrs. Record Pct. Bill White 1965–69 5 65–35 .650 Ken Trickey 1969–74, 87–93 11 214–116 .648 Jerry Hale 1974–77 3 61–21 .744 Lake Kelly 1977–79 2 30–24 .556 Ken Hayes 1979–83 4 50–43 .538 Dick Acres 1982–85 3 47–34 .580 Ted Owens 1985–87 2 21–35 .375 Bill Self 1993–97 4 55–54 .505 Barry Hinson 1997–99 2 36–23 .610 Scott Sutton 1999–2017 18 328-247 .570 Paul Mills 2017–pres
Baseball
The ORU baseball team has won the Mid-Con and Summit League tournament titles in 18 of the last 20 years, with the only exceptions being the 2013 and 2014 seasons in which ORU competed in the Southland Conference. In 2006, they advanced to the NCAA Super Regional. ORU continues to compete against regional rivals such as Arkansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, and Wichita State, as well as dominating the Summit League.
Notable players Mike Moore was an ORU standout from 1979–81 and first-round draft pick. He played 14 seasons in the big leagues and was selected an American League All-Star in 1989. He played in consecutive World Series with Oakland (1989–90), winning a World Championship in 1989. Todd Burns (1982–84) was Moore's teammate in Oakland and helped the A's win three straight American League pennants (1988–90) and 1989 World Series. Keith Lockhart (1985–86) played in the 1999 World Series as a member of the Atlanta Braves and helped that team win five consecutive National League Eastern Division titles. Tom Nieto (1981) played in the 1985 world Series with St. Louis Cardinals and won a World championship in 1987 as a member of the Minnesota Twins. Doug Bernier, Michael Hollimon and Steve Holm all made their Major League debuts in 2008. Alex "Chi Chi" Gonzalez was drafted in the 1st round (23rd overall) in 2013 and made it to the Rangers lineup for his MLB debut May 30, 2015. Jose Trevino (6th round, 2014) and Matt Whatley (3rd round, 2017) were also drafted by the Texas Rangers.
Notable coaches Former head coach Larry Cochell guided ORU from 1977–86, leading the school to seven NCAA Regional appearances and the 1978 College World Series. Former coach Sunny Golloway was one of the winningest active skippers in the NCAA Division I, guiding the Golden Eagles to a 294–136 record and five NCAA Regional appearances in seven years at the helm. He was an assistant coach for Team USA in the summer of 2002.
As first year head coach in 2004, Rob Walton guided ORU to the nation's best winning percentage (.820) while also setting a Summit League mark with a 50–11 overall record. The 2004 Golden Eagles were ranked in the Top 20 for 12 consecutive weeks, reaching a high of No. 13 in late May...Walton led ORU to its ninth consecutive Summit League Tournament title and the program's 18th NCAA Regional appearance in 2006. Walton also earned ABCA Midwest Region Coach of the Year honors after guiding the Golden Eagles to a regional championship and final Top 25 ranking in all three major, a program first. Walton also served as the head coach for USA Baseball's National Team during the summer of 2008.
Since taking over for Walton in 2013, Ryan Folmar led ORU to a 132-93 record and three NCAA Tournament berths in his first five years. In 2017, the Golden Eagles were 43-16 (25-4 Summit League) and beat Oklahoma State in the second game of the Fayetteville Regional in the NCAA Tournament.
NCAA First-Team All-Americans Selections 1977 Bob Volk 1978 Bill Springman 1981 Mike Moore 1981 Tom Nieto 1982 Keith Mucha 1984 Todd Burns 1991 Robert Collins 1999 Jeff Stallings 2004 Dennis Bigley 2008 Brian Van Kirk
Women's basketball Having 4 conference championships under their belt in the 8 years since joining the Mid-Continent Conference (now The Summit League), the team has a solid reputation among fellow mid-major programs. Head coach Jerry Finkbeiner was hired in July 1996 and has delivered all four of the school's NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship appearances. Overall record of 219–172 (.5607) Five NCAA tournament appearances One WNIT appearance One Summit League regular season title Five Summit League tournament titles Two Preseason WNIT appearances Five Summit League Players of the Year Five Summit League Newcomers of the Year Five Summit League Defensive Player of the year 11 first team All-Summit League selections Eight Second Team All-Summit League selections 10 Summit League All-Newcomer Team selections Six Summit League Tournament MVPs Seven Summit League Championship game appearances Two Honorable Mention All-American One Freshman All-American
Women's soccer The women's soccer team advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2004. Overall record of 134–99–17 (.570) One NCAA Tournament appearance Two Summit League Regular Tournament titles Three Summit League Players of the Year 30 First Team All- Summit League selections 20 Second Team All-Summit League selections 22 Summit League All-Tournament selections Two Summit League Tournament MVPs Six Summit League Championship game appearances Memorable Players: Nicole Bucelluni, Tayah Schroter-Gillespie, Lindsay Ruisch, Michelle Hoogveld, Kellie Fenton
Men's soccer One NCAA Play-in appearance One Summit League Tournament Title Three Summit League players of the year Three Summit League Newcomers of the Year 25 First Team All-Summit League selections 25 Second Team All-Summit League selections 16 Summit League All-Tournament selections One Summit League Tournament MVP
Women's golf 13 Summit League titles (consecutive) NCAA's Longest Active Consecutive Conference Championships Streak 10 NCAA Tournament appearances One individual NCAA Championships qualifier 10 Summit League Players of the Year Nine Summit League Newcomers of the Year 42 First Team All-Summit League selections 16 Second Team All-Summit League selections
Men's golf Six NCAA Championship appearances Best finish: Second in 1981 to BYU 14 conference championships Horizon League (6): 1980–1983, 1984 (fall), 1985 Summit League (8): 1998–2001, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2025 Six Summit League Players of the Year Eight Summit League Newcomers of the Year Three NCAA qualifiers 17 First Team All-Summit League selections 13 Second Team All-Summit League selections PGA Tour winners: Dave Barr (two wins), Bill Glasson (seven wins) Paul Friedlander, a Swazi golfer, played for the team and became a professional golfer
Men's and women's cross country Five Women's NCAA Regional appearances Two Summit League Men's Runner of the Year Four Summit League Women's runner of the Year One Summit League Women's Newcomer of the Year Ben Houltberg, 2000 Mid-Con Student-Athlete of the year Faithy Kamangila, 2004 Cross Country All-American Nine Men's First Team All-Summit League selections Six Men's Second Team All-Summit League selections 16 Women's First Team All-Summit League selections Eight Women's Second Team All-Summit League selections
Men's indoor track & field
One individual Nation Champion Seven Summit League Championships 20 NCAA Qualifiers Nine All-Americans Eight Summit League Newcomers of the Year Eight Summit League Athletes of the Year 149 All Summit selections Seven All-Summit Championship Event-Records
Men's outdoor track & field Two individual National Champions Six All-Americans One Summit League Championship 40 NCAA qualifiers One Summit League Athlete of the Year Two Summit League Newcomer of the Year 2006 4x800 Relay Team Ranked #1 in the World Ranked #10 nationally in 2002 with a 3.03 GPA 122 All-Summit League selections Four Summit League Championship event-records
Women's indoor track & field Two Summit League Championships 40 NCAA Qualifiers Seven All-Americans Ranked #1 nationally in 2001 & 2002 in team G.P.A. 115 All-Summit League selections 13 Summite League Championship event-records Six Athletes of the Year Three Newcomer of the Year
Women's tennis Seven NCAA appearances Seven Summit League Regular Season titles Eight Summit League Tournament + Championships Five Summit League Players of the Year Three Summit League Newcomers of the Year 33 All-Summit League selections
Men's tennis Eight NCAA Tournament appearances