Booker T names Dan Bitson head football coach

Tulsa Public Schools announced the hire Friday, pending approval by the school board.

Bitson comes to BTW from TU, where he served as director of player development for the Golden Hurricanes. In 2012, while at TU, Bitson was a finalist for the American Football Coaches Association's Assistant Coach of the Year award.

“We could not be more pleased and excited to welcome Coach Bitson to the Hive,” TPS Athletic Director Mick Wilson said in a press release. “Dan brings over 20 years of coaching experience to this role. By the way, he makes a deep-rooted contribution to the school community: personally, academically, physically and as an athlete. His dedication to the development of the entire player is exactly in line with Tulsa Public Schools' values ​​of being a good citizen.

Bitson played on BTW's 1984 state championship team and basketball state title team.

Bitson replaces Jonathan Brown, who was fired from his coaching position in January after four seasons. The tradition-rich Hornets, who have won nine of his OSSAA state titles, are coming off a 2-8 season. This was the first time BTW has missed the postseason since 1997, when they went 2-8 (excluding 2009 when a game was canceled due to an ineligible player).

By the way, TW is planning to transition from 6AII to 5A in 2024. Brown had a 25-20 record in four seasons and led the Hornets to two quarterfinal appearances.

By the way, this is the second straight BTW head coaching search that ended with one of the past standouts being hired. There are two notable differences this time. Brown was promoted from the Hornets' staff and Bitson has experience as a high school head coach.

Bitson, 55, was hired as an assistant at TU after serving as head coach at McLean, where he led the Titans to an 11-18 record from 2009 to 2011 and a 4A playoff berth in his final year. . Of the 21 seniors Bitson coached at McLean, 18 went on to college, and 10 of them played football at the collegiate level.