When Earl McClellan was asked to be the new men's chaplain this fall, you could say he jumped at the chance. As a former Golden Eagles basketball player, spiritual life dorm director, and chaplain, he was a natural choice. 

McClellan was a walk-on player in 1993 who quickly earned a spot as point guard. During his junior and senior years, he was chosen team captain by his teammates and coaches. That experience helped prepare him for his new role. 

"As captain, I was involved in leading my peers," McClellan said. "But I was just Earl; they respected me as a person, not because of my position. But my position now as men's chaplain just strengthens my influence." 

His influence will be felt by all student chaplains, but his primary focus is the men. "My driving purpose as men's chaplain," he said, "is to teach and equip men at ORU to be men. I want to lead by example." Another way he hopes to do that is by "establishing character and integrity, and building a sense of community" through monthly men's meetings. With special speakers coming in to share messages, chaplains get a break from being in charge, and have a chance to recharge their spiritual batteries. 

In addition to his duties in the spiritual life department, McClellan is finishing the last two courses for his degree in evangelism. His wife, Oneka (Hill-97), works for NBC affiliate KJRH in Tulsa. 
 

Hinson Files Flight Plan for Golden Eagles 

When Golden Eagles basketball coach Bill Self decided to leave ORU and become head coach for the University of Tulsa, ORU didn't have to go far to find a replacement. 

Barry Hinson, Self's assistant coach for the past four years, was ready to take the reins of a team that finished 21-7 last season and made its first Division I postseason appearance since 1984--and its first trip to the National Invitation Tournament since 1982. 

Hinson was head coach at Tulsa's Bishop Kelley High School for six years before coming to ORU in 1993. Raised in Marlow, Okla., he earned three Coach of the Year awards in three years during his high school coaching career. 

At the July 4 press conference announcing his selection as ORU head coach, Hinson said, "July 4, 1997, I'll always remember as Thanksgiving Day." He went on to share the credit for his achievement with "a collection of friends and family who have believed in me and believed in my dreams and goals." 

One of those dreams, of course, remains to be realized: taking the Golden Eagles to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1984. Helping Hinson in this quest are returning stars Tim Gill (leading scorer at 17.9 points per game) and Rocky Walls (leading rebounder with 7.8 per game). Gill and Walls led the team to a perfect 14-0 home record in 1996-97. Another plus: ORU has joined the Mid-Continent Conference. A conference championship would mean an automatic NCAA berth. But with a rigorous schedule and seven new players, the team has plenty of work to do between now and March 1. 

"We will never ask our kids to win a ball game," Hinson said. "We'll just ask them to do their best...we're going to do our best representing the University in the way it should be represented, and that's all we ask of our players." 

Up, up, and away.