AP FILE PHOTO - Drake women’s basketball coach Jennie Baranczyk directs her team during the first half of a college basketball game against Illinois State on March 7, 2019, in Des Moines.

NORMAN, Okla. — Oklahoma has hired Drake coach Jennie Baranczyk as its next women’s basketball coach.

Oklahoma made the announcement in a news release on Saturday. Baranczyk replaces Sherri Coale, who retired last month after 25 years of leading the program.

Baranczyk coached Drake the past nine seasons. She had a 192-96 overall record and led the Bulldogs to NCAA tournament berths in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

“It is very difficult, but we have decided the time is right to make a difficult change,” Baranczyk said in a statement. “Our family is leaving our home this week for a new opportunity with a new program. This has been an incredibly hard choice — it is not easy to walk away from all that we have built.”

The two-time Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year had a .667 winning percentage, fifth-best in league history.

“Her track record of overseeing creative and effective offenses, and producing high win totals, conference championships and postseason appearances during her time at Drake certainly appealed to our search committee as it evaluated the very competitive candidate pool,” Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione said in a statement. “But her mastery of the head coaching role extends far beyond the court, and it’s clear that her personal and professional values align with ours.”

This season, Drake led the nation in assists per game (20.4), ranked sixth in the country in field goal percentage (48.1 percent), 22nd in scoring offense (76.4 ppg) and 24th in 3-point field goal percentage (36.4 percent). The Bulldogs finished 18-12 overall and in second place in league play with a 13-5 record.

“The impact Jennie Baranczyk has made on our Drake women’s basketball program, our university and our community as the head women’s basketball coach over the past nine years cannot be overstated,” said Drake director of athletics Brian Hardin. “She has led our women’s basketball program with passion and integrity and developed a culture that will continue the standard of excellence her teams established. We are grateful to Jennie, Scott, and their family and we wish them the very best in their next journey.”

Under Baranczyk, Drake spent multiple weeks ranked in the AP Top 25 poll in 2016-17 and 2018-19 seasons. In November 2018, the Bulldogs climbed as high as No. 24 to earn the program’s highest ranking since 2001.

“I leave today with a grateful heart for everyone who has been along for the ride these last nine years,” Baranczyk wrote. “I will never be able to repay your support, your trust, your passion.”