WHAT WE COULD HOPE FOR Oklahoma sooners as Jared Bednar of Colorado avalanche has returned to former team as a senior coaching.
In an unexpected yet exciting move in the world of coaching, Jared Bednar, who has enjoyed a successful tenure with the Colorado Avalanche, has returned to his former team in a new capacity—Senior Coach. This shift not only speaks volumes about Bednar’s loyalty and expertise but also raises a lot of questions about what the future holds for both Bednar and his former teams, including the Oklahoma Sooners. While Bednar’s new role in Colorado may not directly involve Oklahoma, the potential ripple effects of this news could have an impact on the Sooners’ athletic programs—particularly in the realm of coaching and performance development.
Although Bednar’s return to his former team focuses on hockey, it’s hard not to draw parallels between his career trajectory and the challenges and opportunities faced by programs like the Sooners, who operate in the high-pressure, high-performance world of collegiate athletics. Whether it’s through leadership strategies, organizational culture, or performance optimization, we can explore what the Oklahoma Sooners could learn from Bednar’s career choices and professional growth, as well as how they might apply those lessons to their own athletic programs.
Jared Bednar’s move to a Senior Coach role with the Colorado Avalanche signals a phase of evolution, both for him personally and for the team. For Bednar, this decision marks a shift from his previous responsibilities as head coach to a more strategic, high-level role, one that focuses on mentorship, advanced strategy, and overall team development. His decision is undoubtedly a reflection of the deep understanding he has gained from years of coaching at the NHL level.
This career progression is noteworthy for a variety of reasons. Bednar’s career began with less fanfare, climbing the ranks from minor league coaching positions to eventually leading the Avalanche to their first Stanley Cup in over 20 years. His development as a coach highlights a blend of patience, perseverance, and adaptability—qualities that are also essential for success in college sports, particularly for programs like the Oklahoma Sooners, who are always on the hunt for both talent and stability.
For Oklahoma, a program that has seen significant success in recent years but also faces the ever-present challenge of maintaining its position atop the competitive college sports ladder, Bednar’s career trajectory presents several valuable takeaways.
One of the key lessons the Sooners can take away from Bednar’s move is the importance of strong, consistent leadership, especially during times of transition. Whether it’s within a coaching staff or in the relationship between coaches and players, strong leadership ensures that the program doesn’t just survive but thrives in difficult circumstances.
Just as Bednar led the Avalanche through a successful rebuild to reach the pinnacle of professional hockey, the Sooners—across all sports—have had to navigate transitions. Whether it’s through a change in head coaches, shifting team dynamics, or a new generation of athletes, maintaining stability and vision is crucial to success.
The Oklahoma Sooners’ leadership—particularly head coaches in football, basketball, softball, and baseball—must continue to focus on building and maintaining a cohesive team culture. By emulating Bednar’s leadership style, which emphasizes clear communication, organizational alignment, and player development, the Sooners can continue to perform at a high level, even in the face of transitions and challenges.
Bednar’s success with the Avalanche came from not just coaching Xs and Os but also understanding the mental and emotional aspects of leading a team. He created an environment that fostered growth, communication, and trust—qualities that are as important on a college sports team as they are in the NHL. For the Sooners, these same principles can be applied to strengthen the mental toughness of players, build confidence, and foster a culture of collaboration that extends beyond the playing field.
Another core principle that Bednar’s career can offer to the Oklahoma Sooners is the value of adaptability. Bednar didn’t get to where he is by sticking rigidly to one approach; instead, he demonstrated a keen ability to adapt his coaching strategies based on the needs of his team. This adaptability is especially important for programs like the Sooners, who must continuously evolve in a fast-changing landscape of college sports.
For Oklahoma, this means evolving not just in terms of tactics but also in response to the changing dynamics of recruitment, NIL deals, and modern athlete expectations. Bednar’s ability to adjust his methods based on the needs of his players can be seen as a blueprint for how college coaches—especially at Oklahoma—must navigate the complexities of the new era in collegiate athletics.
As programs like Oklahoma continue to recruit and develop top-tier talent, it’s crucial for their coaching staff to remain open to new methods, technologies, and philosophies. Whether it’s implementing cutting-edge sports science, adapting to a more player-centric environment, or finding ways to engage players in ways that motivate them beyond traditional techniques, the Sooners must be prepared to evolve. Bednar’s ability to shift his coaching style to meet the changing needs of his team is something that Oklahoma coaches can draw inspiration from, as they aim to keep their programs competitive and progressive.
In the case of Bednar’s move, one of the most striking aspects of his leadership was his ability to foster a team-first mentality that transcended individual talent. In a sport like hockey, where teamwork and cohesion are paramount, Bednar’s ability to align his players with a shared vision became one of the hallmarks of his success. Oklahoma’s athletic programs, especially in team sports like football and basketball, can benefit from focusing on strengthening their own team dynamics.
The Sooners have seen success with the individual brilliance of athletes like Baker Mayfield, Jalen Hurts, and Sabrina Ionescu. Still, it is the collective effort of each team that brings championships and glory. Oklahoma could learn from Bednar’s leadership by emphasizing collaboration and teamwork in every aspect of their programs. Bednar’s success with the Avalanche shows that building a strong culture based on unity and mutual respect can lead to long-term success—something that Oklahoma must prioritize in its own teams.
In many ways, this aspect of team culture is even more crucial in college sports, where athletes come and go and where balancing individual aspirations with team goals can be tricky. Bednar’s ability to develop players not just as athletes but as integral parts of a collective effort offers a model that Oklahoma’s coaches can emulate when thinking about how to create a team that performs well beyond the sum of its parts.
Bednar’s transition from head coach to Senior Coach also offers an important lesson in talent development and long-term planning. Rather than focusing solely on immediate results, Bednar has taken on a role that emphasizes strategic foresight—helping guide the future of the Avalanche while ensuring that the talent pipeline remains strong.
For the Sooners, especially in programs like softball, basketball, and football, long-term player development is crucial to maintaining sustained success. It’s not enough for a program to simply recruit well for one season; the development of players, both on and off the field, is what will ensure that Oklahoma remains at the top of the competitive standings year after year.
Just as Bednar has invested time in mentoring young talent and shaping future leaders of the Avalanche, the Sooners’ coaching staff must continue to emphasize the holistic development of their athletes. Whether it’s refining their athletic skills, fostering leadership qualities, or preparing them for life beyond college, the coaching staff at Oklahoma should consider how best to prepare athletes for success in both the short and long term.
By taking a page from Bednar’s playbook, the Sooners could create more comprehensive development programs that nurture talent across all levels—ensuring that they are not only competitive today but positioned for success in the future.
Bednar’s shift to a more senior role also highlights the importance of mental preparation and player development. As a coach, Bednar’s emphasis has always been on ensuring his players are mentally prepared for high-stakes moments. This is something that could be especially beneficial for the Oklahoma Sooners, whose athletes often find themselves in high-pressure situations, whether it’s a playoff game, national title game, or just a rivalry matchup.
Mental toughness is a key element of performance, and programs like Oklahoma’s could continue to benefit from focusing more on this aspect of training. Bednar has worked tirelessly to ensure that his players are not only physically prepared but mentally sharp when it matters most. This focus on mental preparation could play a significant role in Oklahoma’s continued dominance across all sports, particularly as the Sooners aim to compete for national titles year after year.
Jared Bednar’s return to the Colorado Avalanche in a senior coaching role provides an interesting lens through which we can view the challenges and opportunities that face college programs like the Oklahoma Sooners. While Bednar’s role is focused on the NHL, the principles of leadership, adaptability, team culture, and talent development that have fueled his success are universal and can be applied to any high-level sports program.
For Oklahoma, there is much to learn from Bednar’s approach. Whether it’s building a consistent, adaptable leadership culture, prioritizing long-term player development, or fostering a strong, united team mentality, the Sooners have plenty of opportunities to further their success. By embracing these principles, Oklahoma can continue its legacy as one of the most successful athletic programs in the country, both now and well into the future. The Sooners have all the right ingredients for greatness, and with a little inspiration from leaders like Jared Bednar, they could be on the verge of even greater achievements.
