Competing One Pitch at a Time - Clay Van Hook, Oklahoma University

Van Hook creates the team’s offensive game plan and works with the infielders, while also coaching third base on game days and assisting in coordinating the Sooners’ recruiting efforts. Van Hook joined the Sooners in July 2017 after a six-year stint at Rice and is heading into year five at OU. 
  
Van Hook played for head coach Skip Johnson at both Navarro College (2004) and Texas (2007). He transferred to UT from Navarro after his freshman season and spent three years at UT. As a sophomore in 2005, Van Hook earned All-Big 12 Second Team and was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 2007.  

From 2012-17, Van Hook was on the coaching staff at Rice under long-time head coach Wayne Graham. Hired as the volunteer assistant for the 2012 season, Van Hook was moved into a full-time role in 2013 as the Owls’ hitting coach. He also held responsibilities as the team’s recruiting coordinator, infielders’ coach and coached third base on game days. 
 Van Hook and the Owls made the NCAA Tournament six times in his six-year tenure.  

Before joining the staff at Rice, Van Hook served as an assistant coach at McNeese State for three seasons from 2009-11. Van Hook earned his degree at Texas in 2008 while serving as a student-coach. He his wife Selina have a daughter Avery Michel (eight) and a son Briscoe (five).