Oral Roberts fires basketball coach Sutton after 18 years

TULSA, Okla. (AP) – Oral Roberts fired men’s basketball coach Scott Sutton on Monday after 18 years.

The school made the announcement in a release on the team’s website.

Sutton had a 328-247 record at Oral Roberts, and the Golden Eagles made the NCAA Tournament three straight years from 2006-2008. They won the Summit League regular-season title in 2011-2012 with a 27-win campaign.

Sutton leaves as the winningest coach in school history, despite Oral Roberts having losing records the past two years – 14-17 in 2015-16 and 8-22 last season.

Athletic director Mike Carter said the school appreciates Sutton’s “outstanding record, his loyalty and his long-term service to the university.”

Assistant coach Rodney Perry has been selected as interim head coach, and the program has started searching for a full-time replacement.