Torey Noel played big role in Midwest City's glory days. Now, he's 'remodeling' as coach.

MIDWEST CITY — Deep inside Midwest City High School's gymnasium, Torey Noel was overwhelmed with nostalgia.

Photos and plaques of the Bombers' rich history surrounded him in his new office.

Noel reminisced on his time as the Bombers' starting point guard. He dreaded being summoned into that office. He also recalled his stint as an assistant coach.

It hit him that he was Midwest City's new head coach. A fresh start was in order.

So, he called over a few childhood buddies.

They first put a fresh coat of white paint on the ceiling and walls. New desks, shelves and chairs followed.

"It looks nice now, but there's still a lot of remodeling I want to do," Noel said with a grin.

The Midwest City graduate has his place in Bombers' lore as a player. Now, he's working to cement his status as the leader of the program. In just a few short months, the Bombers have doubled their win total from a year ago.

A third state tournament berth in five years is possible. Noel envisions the Bombers being the premier program once again. And he's shown early why he's the man for the job.

"I grew up in the same neighborhoods as most of these kids," Noel said. "So because of that, I'm dedicated to giving them 100% of my energy and effort to get them to where they strive to be. We all want Midwest City to be a powerhouse once again."

More: How did Carl Albert girls basketball flip script to beat Shawnee in rematch? 'We over me'

Torey Noel's transition from playing to coaching

The Bombers’ winning ways began in 1995 when they appeared in the Class 5A state title game for the first time in school history. Soon after, Midwest City was in Class 6A and it won three state championships in four years under Terry Evans.

Midwest City made the state tournament each year from 2003-08, winning another title in 2007 under Rodney Dindy.

In 2010, Dewayne Bradley arrived to lead the Bombers. So did a young point guard. Together, Bradley and Noel won 94 games and appeared in two state title games.

As a senior, Noel averaged 15 points and was named to The Oklahoman's Big All-City first team.

Now, Noel and Bradley are reunited on the Bombers' bench.

More: Luke Gray remains unstoppable in Oklahoma Christian's win over Class 3A rival Millwood

“Torey was one of the very best players I got a chance to coach,” said Bradley, now a Midwest City assistant coach after a three-year stint at Noble.

“One thing I always admired about Torey was his IQ for the game. When he played here, he ran the show at point guard, so he was the de facto coach on the floor for me. So it didn’t surprise me when he got onto the sidelines because he’s a born leader.”

Noel continued his playing career at Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa for two years before transferring to Lamar, where he played from 2016-18. Through two seasons, he averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 assists, 1.6 rebounds and 1.3 steals.

After Lamar, Noel sought overseas playing opportunities. But once his wife got pregnant with their second child, he decided to pursue his passion for coaching.

He got a job as a PE teacher at Ridgecrest Elementary before inquiring with Bradley about joining the Bombers coaching staff. After Bradley left, Noel stayed as an assistant on the staff before joining Jermaine Simpson’s staff at Choctaw last season.

“This journey has made me appreciate the game so much more,” Noel said. “I learned from being an assistant just how prepared and intentional you must be to see success.”

More: Mustang defensive star Cherish Haywood is improving offense: 'I'm getting more confident'

A new era underway on the east side

Now, Noel aims to do what he couldn’t as a player — win a state championship.

Before the start of this season, Midwest City dropped from 6A to 5A. Noel was fully conscious of this move before taking the job.

Yet, none of that mattered to him.

The Bombers are 17-3 atop District 5A-2 just a year removed from winning six games.

"From the moment I got here, I used to tell them we have a chance to be special," Noel said. "I could just feel it after watching them scrimmage in the summer. All I had to do was make sure they were on the same page and played with discipline every step of the way.

"This program used to play on a national schedule. I'm driven to get back to doing that."

Noel has been aided by the veteran presence of senior Roy Henderson Jr. and the addition of Carlsheon Young, a four-star move-in who is committed to Oklahoma State.

Young, who was at Newcastle but briefly left the state for a prep school, opted for Midwest City in part to its new coach.

More: Vote for Oklahoma City-area high school Landmark Fine Homes athletes of week, Feb. 5

"I didn't know where I was going to go at first," Young said, "but once my dad told me Coach Torey was here now, it was a no-brainer."

Henderson played junior varsity for Noel at Midwest City, picking up on key skills and leadership.

"I think the main reason we've been successful this year is just how much we relate to Coach Torey," Henderson said. "I'm not surprised that he's turned things around here in his first year because it isn't hard to believe in someone that we know believes in us.

"He always has."

The Bombers' unique playing style is the most impressive part of Noel's success. Midwest City makes up for its lack of size with speed against opposing teams.

Noel runs a five-guard lineup at all times, with a 6-foot-4 Young playing center. For Noel, the newly implemented play style mimics the "heart over height" mindset he played with at 5 feet 10.

"It's important for us to play this way for the sake of the offense," Noel said. “As long as we hold our own on the defensive end — and we've done that at a high level so far. They've done a great job of sticking together in a time of change and deserve a ton of credit for their ability to adapt."

More: Oklahoma HS fall sports: 2023 All-State, All-City teams in football, softball & more

In its 17 wins, Midwest City has out-scored opponents by an average of 25 points. A buzz reminiscent of its glory days now surrounds the program.

Yet, his mission appears bigger than just what basketball can offer.

Since his playing days, Noel has embraced the importance of family and culture, which have always been a part of the community. In return, Midwest City's residents have shown out in grand fashion at games and on social media.

In Noel's eyes, he strives to refund the love his city has invested in him by bringing back hype on the east side of town.

"I know many people who have played here who helped bring the city to our games. They keep me grounded and passionate. These are the people I grew up with, the same people who looked out for me and raised me every step of the way. The love Midwest City shows is unlike anywhere else."

Jordan Davis covers high school sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Jordan? He can be reached at jdavis@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @jdavis34_. Sign up for The Varsity Club newsletter to access more high school coverage. Support Jordan’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

Torey Noel at a glance

• Born: Feb. 13, 1995

• Hometown: Midwest City, Oklahoma

• College: Northern Oklahoma College - Tonkawa (2014-2016), Lamar (2016-2018)

• Notable: Was named to The Oklahoman's Big All-City first team in 2014 after averaging 15 points as a senior. Once his playing playing career ended, he joined Dewayne Bradley's coaching staff at Midwest City in 2018 before leaving to become an assistant at Choctaw in 2022.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma HS basketball: Torey Noel rebuilding Midwest City as coach