Nick Crowell has been head coach of Oklahoma men's tennis for ten years, and Norman feels like home now, not somewhere he moved to. This is how he got here — and why he's staying.
Red River Roots
Crowell grew up in Amarillo, where grit was a requirement. His father — self-taught and the club's longtime tennis director — put a racquet in his hand. "A lot of what I've learned has come from him," Crowell says.
That mentality carried him to Texas as a two-time All-American, then briefly pro before Florida State, where he spent 13 years under his college coach, Dwayne Hultquist. There he met his wife, Lindsay, and had all three kids before Oklahoma called in 2016.
Six Words, One Culture
Ask Crowell what drives the team, and at times his parenting, and he doesn't hesitate: THRIVE — Trust, Humility, Resilience, Intensity, Vision, Effort. "We can literally break down every practice, every interaction, every match by those six core values," he says. "If our core values stay strong, we typically win, or at least we're playing well."
Safe to say t's worked. In his first season, Crowell led Oklahoma to its first NCAA title, a doubles crown for Spencer Papa and Andrew Harris. This year brought a Sweet 16 run and a 4-0 win over USC. A THRIVE sign now hangs with pride in the Headington Family Tennis Center.
The roster reflects how the sport has changed: Crowell estimates 65 to 80 percent of top players now come from overseas, and last year his team spanned nine countries. "I think our community does a great job welcoming them in and making them feel like a part of the community," he says.
A Family, On and Off the Court
Crowell's kids have grown up around the program: Brooklyn, a Norman High senior and dancer; Cash, 14, into Legos and collectibles more than a racquet; and 11-year-old Hays, the team's "mini-mascot."
"My wife's a saint," Crowell says, adding her number one job is always being a mom.
It's been a big year for the Crowells off the court. The family navigated difficult health circumstances this spring, and Crowell credits his team for rallying around them unasked. "It meant a lot," he says. The Sooners finished top eight nationally.
He said it was easy for them to call Norman home for a myriad of reasons: the people, the sports community, and great schools and family resources.
The Hat Guy
Crowell has one signature: the hat. "People kind of know me as a hat guy," he says. He's a little superstitious too, wearing one for a stretch before retiring it for something new. His current go-to was designed for the program's Breakpoint Club.
Oklahoma's favorite look is the all red: "I think it looks pretty cool," Crowell says. Captains pick the match-day outfits, leaving gear design to associate head coach Ben Dunbar.
An Open Invitation
Crowell wants Cleveland County in the stands, not watching from home. Matches are free, usually Friday nights or Sunday afternoons, with pizza. "We have the nicest facility in the country now," he says. "One of our goals is to fill the stands for every match."
The Crowell-Cohen after-school program brings kids 5 to 18 onto the courts several days a week, feeding local talent into a tennis community Crowell says keeps growing locally.
Norman, for Good
A decade in, Norman doesn't feel new anymore. "It feels like the only place we've ever been," Crowell says of the city he and Lindsay chose to raise their family — partly for the small-town feel and a 20-minute OKC drive. Off the courts, they're likely on Main Street, or stocking the fridge with chocolate-covered apples from Apple Tree Chocolates.
As for how much longer he'll be doing this: *pull quote*
"This is the place that I want to coach as long as I can."