Oklahoma Tennis Coaches Association Inducts Five to Hall of Fame

The Oklahoma Tennis Coaches Association (OCTA) 5th Annual Hall of Fame Induction took place in 2020, inducting five deserving coaches.  In the summer of 2021, the OCTA will be inducting another class of deserving Oklahoma coaches.  For more information about nominations, click here. 

2020 Oklahoma Tennis Coaches Association Hall of Fame Inductees: 

Sheri Mitchell 

Sheri Mitchell graduated from Central High School in Phenix City, Alabama in 1974. She went on to receive an associate’s degree from Chattahoochee Valley Community College (Phenix City, AL), and then a Bachelor of Science from Auburn University in 1979. Sheri made her way to Oklahoma when she attended East Central University, getting her Masters in Education in 1989. Sheri spent her coaching career at Ardmore High School as a varsity head coach for 10 years and junior high head coach for 3. During her time, she coached 9 All-State athletes and 3 individual State Champions. Along with her girl tennis teams, she won two 4A State Championships and three 4A State Runner Ups. Sheri has been an OTCA member for 10 years. She spent time on the advisory board and served as president of the association from 1993-94. She was the first female president for the state of Oklahoma! In 1995, Sheri was named the National Federation of Interscholastic Oklahoma Girls Tennis Coach of the Year. She was OTCA Coach of the Year in 2000 and Region Coach of the Year. She was also an All-State Tennis Coach in 1993 where she was considered an “accidental” coach. The Ardmore Athletic Director then asked her to join the coaching staff because she came from an athletic background. Sheri lives on her tennis legacy by conducting summer tennis camps and has run tournaments in the past. She continues to stay involved in her community by volunteering for the Holiday Festival basketball tournament and with the Special Olympics. She mentors young teachers and has kept varsity basketball books. Sheri now lives in Ardmore, Oklahoma. She has two children Randall and Roy and is the proud grandmother of seven grandchildren.

Ron Watkins 

Ron Watkins graduated high school from Muskogee Central in 1964. He went on to receive a bachelor’s degree from NSU in 1968 and got a master’s from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1976. In addition, he received a principal certification in 1980 from the University of Oklahoma. Ron spent his tennis coaching career at a handful of schools, including Anadarko, Cement, Hominy, and Tahlequah, where his teams won championships for five straight decades. His Anadarko girls team was named State Champions in 1978. For 21 years of his coaching career, he coached at two of the smallest public schools that had tennis programs. He coached three All-State athletes and one State Champion. 14 of his players went on to play college tennis. Ron has been a member of the OTCA for over 30 years. He served on the advisory board from 1986-1989. He was named Regional Tennis Coach of the Year four times and All-State Coach (East) in 1997. Ron is the founder and president of the Anadarko Tennis Association. He was a member and president of Hominy’s Kiwanis from 1986-87, as well as the Minister of Music in Oklahoma churches from 1973-2003. Ron is an avid supporter of the NSU tennis program, supporting financially, and by co-hosting meals for players. Ron and his wife Nancy Watkins live in Tahlequah where he continues to lead tennis clinics and teach lessons. He has two children, Stephani Hunt and Scott Watkins.

Danny Laufer

Danny Laufer graduated from high school in Gotebo, Oklahoma in 1970. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in December of 1974. Danny was the first tennis coach for Elk City tennis. His team started playing competitively during the 1974-75 school year. He was the varsity head coach for a collective 25 years between the years of 1975 to 2002. He also spent time coaching junior high boys and girls basketball for six years. He coached 16 All-State athletes and 10 individual State Champions (two singles and four doubles). During his career, he won 11 Regional Championships among his boy and girl teams. The girls won Runner-Up once and each was named Academic State Champions. Danny has been a member of the OTCA for 24 years. His first year he didn’t even know one existed! He served on the advisory board from 1990-1992. He was named Region Coach of the Year in 1993, Coach West All-State, also in 1993, and OTCA Coach of the Year in 2002. Danny is a devout member of the Elk City community. It is there he started the Elk City Tennis Classic tournament, which is now in its 36th year. He has been a member of Elk City FBC for 43 years where he has sung in the choir and helped with the children’s Awana program. For two years, he spent Saturdays helping to renovate an old gym at the Lincoln Town Center for teens at risk. He is the director of the Elk City Summer Tennis Program for Kids and assists with the Ladies Tennis Association in setting up and sponsoring tennis tournaments. Danny and his wife Jodie Laufer have three children - Steven, Chris and Bradley Laufer.

Kent Lackey

Kent Lackey graduated from Henryetta High School in 1968. After high school, he then went on to receive his Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Oklahoma in 1972. Kent was the head tennis coach at Henryetta High School for 29 years, as well as 22 years, head coaching freshman football, and five years for 8th grade football. In addition, he head coached their varsity wrestling team for two years and spent 11 years assistant coaching the team. During his tennis career, Kent coached two All-State athletes and eight State Champions. He won State Runner-Up in 1997. Kent has been a member of the OTCA for around 20 years and was on the advisory board 3 times. He served as association president during the 1988-89 term. Kent was an All-State coach in 1993. Kent lives in Henryetta with his wife Caroline Lackey. They have one son, Brian.

John Purcell 

John Purcell graduated from high school in Wewoka, Oklahoma in 1969. He went on to Seminole Junior College and then graduated from Northeastern State College with a bachelor’s and master’s degree. John coached varsity tennis at Tahlequah High School where he was the boys head coach for 27 years and the girls for 12 years. His boy teams were State Runner Up for 9 years straight, from 1983-1992. They were also named Regional Champions 5 times and Conference Champions 14 times. During his career, John was also the M Valley Jr. Coordinator for 24 years, 12’s coordinator and endorser for two years, 12s Toanals head coach for 10 years and 16s Inter-Sectional coach for one year. He was also a Team Championship coach for 5 years. John has served time on the OTCA advisory board and assisted with the OTCA Kisner McSpadden Fundraiser. He was named Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State Coach in 1990 and 1998, Oklahoma Secondary Coach of the Year in 1983, and OCAA Region Coach six times. John still lives in Tahlequah, Okla.. He has three children, - Jessie, Jackson and Jordan Purcell.

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