Bowling excepted, 300 is just a number. So it couldn't have been too great a surprise Oklahoma women's basketball coach Sherri Coale had yet to consider it.

The fact that she's sitting on 299 victories heading into today's 2 p.m. tip with Kansas (11-6, 1-3 Big 12), unranked yet still dangerous and still the co-pick of the coaches to win conference's regular season crown, hadn't been winding through her head prior to the conclusion of Friday afternoon practice.

"I really haven't paused to think about it," Coale said.

However, requested to pause and think about it, little of the last 14 years has been lost on her. Of course, it begins with the young women who have worn the uniform.

"I think about a slew of great players," Coale said. "You don't win any games without great players and an extraordinary staff."

Longtime fans and followers could recite a long and strong list, yet it's more fun to hear them out of their coach's mouth. To get her going, a few are suggested: Stacey Dales, Phylesha Whaley, Laneishea Caufield ...

"Jamie Talbert, Dionnah Jackson, Caton Hill, just a bunch of really great players," Coale chimed in. "Leah Rush, Chelsea Welch, Erin Higgins, Britney Brown, Kendra Moore, I can go right on down the list."

Coale's story, on the surface, maybe quaint: Young, successful hometown high school coach takes over the Sooners.

Yet there's nothing quaint about the success the program's enjoyed under her leadership.

Before this season began, Coale was sitting on 286 wins over 13 seasons or an even 22 victories per campaign. Not bad, but even more impressive in context.

The Sooners won five games her first season and eight her second. Things began to turn in a substantial way her third season, when OU went 15-14 and reached the second round of the WNIT.

The next year began a run of three straight Sweet 16s and 10 straight trips to the NCAA Tournament (and counting), with six Big 12 regular season championships and four conference tourney titles won along the way. Twice, 2002 and last season, OU has reached the Final Four.

Time flies when you're having fun?

"In some ways, it seems like I've been here forever. I can't remember what I did before," said Coale, who's never held the same job longer than the one she has. "And in some ways it seems like it was just yesterday (assistant coach) Jan (Ross) and I were whispering to each other, because there would be 200 people in the stands and we didn't want the opponent to hear what we were going to do next."

Coale's mention of fan support during the early days of her reign points toward a success story every bit as fantastic beyond the court as the one on it.

Her first year on the job, the Sooners drew fewer than 500 fans per game. Last season they drew almost 9,000. They continue to boast a fan base that's bought out the lower bowl of Lloyd Noble Center in the form of season tickets.

For last season's game with Tennessee at the Ford Center, 12,552 came out to watch the Sooners take down the Lady Vols.

What's Coale's winning formula?

"I would have to say her attention to detail and her striving for excellence," senior Sooner center Abi Olajuwon said. "It doesn't matter who we're playing. If we're playing against ourselves or if we're playing against a certain team, she's always making sure that we're striving for excellence."

A passionate competitor, Coale has shared in the excitement of conference championships and Final Fours every bit as much as her players, but what sticks with her most goes well beyond on-court success.

"I think there are really three things," she said, "I am incredibly rewarded by the quality of our former players' lives. Who they've become, what they've gone on to do, that is the single greatest reward of coaching.

"One is that all of our scholarships are endowed. We have continued to grow and we're doing our part in becoming self sufficient. We're not there yet but we're doing our part by selling tickets, endowing scholarships and raising money.

"The third is the way this community and this state have wrapped their arms around our program. We really feel buoyed by our support. We have loyal fans that come no matter what."

Today, Coale can win her 300th game from the Sooner bench. No. 301 can't be far behind. Nor can Nos. 302, 303, 304 ...

"I'm surprised it's not more," senior forward and team captain Amanda Thompson said. "I mean, it's just the beginning."

Maybe so.

Clay Horning 366-3526 cfhorning@normantranscript.com