Steven Alexander, the coach of the Frederick A. Douglass boys basketball team, was named Boys Team Coach of the Year at the 2023 OKC Metro High School Sports Awards, presented by BancFirst.
The event was conducted at the OKC Convention Center on June 8. Sam Bradford, a native of Oklahoma City and a former Heisman Trophy recipient, was the featured speaker.
Wes Furley, the boys soccer coach for Santa Fe South, and Jeff Kulbeth, the baseball coach for Washington, were the other two finalists for the award. Furley and Kulbeth both led their respective teams to consecutive state championships.
What Alexander did at Douglass this year stood out from the rest.
Class 4A boys basketball was known throughout the season for its parity and high standard of competition. Alexander deftly navigated the stacked field, leading Douglass to the state tournament and capturing the championship to reestablish a once-regular contender on the globe.
Douglass was the only boys basketball team to defeat two eventual state champions during the regular season: Class 5A Del City and Class 3A Millwood. The Trojans ended the season with a 26-1 record and a 24-game winning streak, as well as a 79-76 victory over the host institution in the Sweet Pea Invitational.
More than 250 student athletes were honored during the performance, which celebrated Oklahoma City-area athletes.
32 winners were recognized as the best in their respective individual sports, and nine premier awards were presented, including Boys Athlete of the Year, Girls Athlete of the Year, Boys Team of the Year, Girls Team of the Year, Boys Coach Team of the Year, Girls Coach Team of the Year, the Courage Award, and the School Spirit Award.
The OKC Metro High School Sports Awards presentation is a component of the USA Today High School Sports Awards, the largest high school sports honors program.
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