For Cochell, the Comforts of Home Weren’t Only Draw to Oklahoma : College baseball: Coach is given five-year rollover contract, an annuity, a car, income from summer camps and a radio and TV show.

A longing to return to the state he calls home was not the only thing that drew Larry Cochell to the University of Oklahoma.

Cochell, who resigned as Cal State Fullerton’s baseball coach Tuesday to accept the job as Sooner coach, left for a financial package that he said will “put me in a good position for the rest of my life.”

Cochell, who returned from Oklahoma late Tuesday evening, wouldn’t reveal specific figures, but his five-year, rollover contract will pay him a base salary that is substantially higher than the $63,000 he made at Fullerton.

The coaching package also includes an annuity, a car, income from summer baseball camps and a television and radio show.

“They made a very big commitment to me,” said Cochell, who guided the Titans to three College World Series appearances in three seasons. “I couldn’t turn it down.”

Under the rollover clause, after every season, another year will be added to Cochell’s contract, meaning he will always be signed for five years.

“That means they can’t fire me for five years,” said Cochell, 50. “And if they want to get rid of me, they have to buy me out for five years.”

Steve DiTolla, Titan associate athletic director who oversees baseball, said the school couldn’t counter with anything close to the deal Oklahoma was offering.

“Fullerton did everything it could do--they did a great job,” Cochell said. “But Oklahoma can do more things financially because of their football and basketball (financial) base. The people at Fullerton couldn’t have worked harder for me to be successful.”

Cochell, who will remain at Fullerton through early August to conduct his baseball camps, said he has mixed emotions about leaving.

“We liked Southern California,” said Cochell, who coached for 10 years at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla. “I’m not going to be able to practice in shorts in the middle of January in Oklahoma. I’ve had three good years here. It’s always hard to move.”

There also are some mixed feelings about Cochell’s arrival in Norman, Okla. Cochell replaced interim Coach Stan Meek, who took over as Sooner coach in January when Enos Semore, who had an 851-379 record in 22 seasons as Oklahoma’s coach, stepped down because of health reasons.

Meek, whose team finished last in the Big Eight this past season, was considered a finalist for the position but lost out to Cochell.

Meek spent 16 years as a Sooner pitching coach and developed such prospects as Jack Armstrong, Bobby Witt, Danny Jackson and George Frazier, who all went on to pitch in the major leagues.

But with Fullerton pitching coach Vern Ruhle joining Cochell at Oklahoma, it appears the Meek shall inherit a pink slip.

“Six months ago, I was probably one of the most respected pitching coaches in the country,” Meek told the Daily Oklahoman. “Now I’m out of a job.”

Asked about replacing Meek, Cochell said, “Those things are always hard, but I can’t do anything about that. I’m head coach at the University of Oklahoma. I have to move on.”

Rumors that Cochell might be moving on surfaced during the College World Series when his name was mentioned in Oklahoma as a candidate. Cochell said a third party--an athletic director from another school--contacted him about the position during the Series, but Cochell told him he wasn’t interested.

Then people from Oklahoma’s selection committee, including former New York Yankee outfielder Bobby Murcer, now general manager of the triple-A Oklahoma City 89ers, began calling.

“One thing led to another, and here I am,” Cochell said.

Cochell said he never traveled to Norman for a formal interview, and he didn’t become seriously interested in the job until Wichita State Coach Gene Stephenson, a former Sooner assistant, turned down the job in mid-June.

“I told them that Stephenson was the first guy they should be talking to,” said Cochell, who has a 791-450 career record in 24 seasons. “And if things didn’t work out with Gene, I’d be happy to talk to them.”

Cochell said the deal wasn’t finalized until Monday, when he met with Oklahoma officials in Norman. Cochell added that he won’t be involved with the hiring of his successor at Fullerton.