Caden Cole Receives As Scholar Athlete Of The Year
Sulphur football coach Corey Cole was honored recently as the Oklahoma Coaches’ Association Coach of the Year, an award that is voted upon by the organization’s coaches in Region 5.
Cole led the Bulldogs to a 12-2 record this season and into the state title game opposite Lincoln Christian in December, narrowly missing the gold ball by mere inches on a late-game two-point conversion try.
The former Sulphur player and SHS grad, took the reins of the team under difficult circumstances when longtime Sulphur coach Jim Dixon died after the Bulldog’s first game in September, 2022.
Following Dixon’s death, Cole, then assistant head coach, was named interim coach to fill out the remainder of that season, then was named as head coach by the Sulphur Board of Education to begin the 2023 season.
Under Cole’s leadership, the Bulldogs quickly became a state title contender and made it to the state quarterfinals in 2023, then to the big dance this season, losing to Lincoln Christian 28-27 on a late game play.
Sulphur lost only to Washington, an eventual state champion, in the first game of this season, but only by a field goal, then bowed to Lincoln Christian by one point for the gold ball. In between, the team won 12 consecutive games, all by big margins.
Cole credited his assistant coaches and players as playing big roles in this award.
“This is a team award and a direct reflection of the success we had this year at Sulphur,” he said this week. “We are blessed with incredible assistant coaches who love these kids. I am grateful to have energetic, passionate, and intentional coaches. But, the real reason we won this award is because we have an unbelievable group of student athletes in the Sulphur Bulldog football program who are committed to our program and culture and are willing to go the extra mile to see this program succeed.
“They believe in everything we ask them to do and trust the process in getting it done. So grateful for these amazing assistant coaches and thankful to have coached one of the best groups of Bulldogs to ever come through Sulphur. This past season was incredible and one we will never forget but the job’s not finished and it’s time to get back to work.”
Cole pointed to a date in 2025 that will loom large when his Bulldogs hit the practice field this fall: “One goal in 2025: Dec 13, 2025, 7:00 p.m. at UCO! FINISH!!!”
Senior Caden Cole Honored
Sulphur senior lineman Caden Cole also won a top award after being named Region 5 Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Caden, Corey Cole’s son, excelled both in the classroom and on the playing fields during this season. He had numerous academic and athletic awards throughout the season.
He holds a 4.0 GPA, scored a composite 30 on his ACT, and will graduate this spring with 30 college credits, in which he also has a 4.0 GPA.
Cole was named a KXII TV A+ athlete and has been on the football leadership team and numerous other student organizations.
He was a three-year starter in football on the offensive and defensive lines. He was a OCA Class 3A All Star recipient, District 3A-2 Offensive Lineman of the Year, and honorable mention All State by the Daily Oklahoman and Prep Redzone.
Caden was a two- time state qualifier in powerlifting, finishing as the state runner-up in 2024. He has also been a member of the Sulphur track teams the past two years He will attend UCO on a football scholarship this coming fall.
