New Oklahoma basketball coach Porter Moser, an outspoken Christian, wants to hit the ground running by building relationships with his new players, OU students and Sooner fans.

Moser took the job after a successful run at Loyola Chicago. In the recent tournament, his team upset No. 1 seeded Illinois.

“I was Jesuit-educated at Creighton University and I’ve coached at a Jesuit school,” Porter said. “And the Jesuits have a mantra – it’s men and women for others.”

Porter said he has seen that type of attitude at Oklahoma.

“I was listening to (Athletic Director Joe Castiglione’s) vision about what Oklahoma’s about and it was everything I was looking for. Building a culture takes time. Building a culture is at the utmost important how you do it. And what drew me to Oklahoma is winning the right way,” Porter said.

The family atmosphere of the OU Athletic Department was a draw, too.

Moser worked under legendary coach Rick Majerus at Saint Louis as an assistant coach from 2007 through 2011.

“There began another part of God’s plan and what I’ve learned – (Majerus) was one of the best basketball minds I’ve ever been around. (I sat) in a board room and watched his mind turn and twist and pivot and talk about game planning,” Moser said. “I saw his attention to detail, how he did skill development, the things he stood for and how he treated my family, how the ran the program. I couldn’t have learned more.

“When Loyola came, he put his arm around me and said, ‘you have to go – that job is perfect for you. Go and build a program.”

Majerus, who coached at Marquette, St. Louis and Utah,  passed away in 2012.

“We lost him too early,” Moser said. “If he were here the last three weeks, he would have put his arm around me and said, ‘you’ve got to go to Oklahoma. That’s a perfect fit for you, Porter.’”

Moser chose to take the OU job even though it is in the Big 12 Conference, which he said is the toughest in the nation (Baylor won the national title) and is filled with coaches who have gone deep into the NCAA Tournament.

“I look forward to it because I have been on that stage, too,” Moser said. “I am not going to take a back seat. I think there are some of the best coaches in the country in this league top to bottom.

“We are going to have to finish out the roster, develop the players that are coming back and continue to develop the players. There’s no question about the challenge. There’s no question as to how good the Big 12 is.”

In the last four years at Loyola University Chicago, Moser has three regular-season Missouri Valley Conference titles, won six NCAA Tournament games, secured two Sweet 16 berths and reached the 2018 Final Four. During that stretch, Moser has totaled a record of 99-36 (.733) – tied for the 10th most wins by a Division I head coach since the start of the 2017-18 season.

One of the first people Moser met with at OU was football coach Lincoln Riley. In some schools, basketball coaches don’t want to go to a school dominated by football and vice versa.

Moser said he can’t wait to take advantage of OU’s sports reputation.

“Everybody know what OU is,” Moser said. “I can wait to parlay that on all the sports but especially football. I mean, it’s a household brand. People are so excited. I can’t wait to learn and be a part of that and definitely use that and sell that excitement of togetherness with our recruits.”

Moser’s teams have a reputation for great defense. This past season’s his squad ranked second in adjusted defensive efficiency (KenPom.com), allowing only 87.0 points per 100 possessions. Moser said defense creates offense. Last season, his team was in the top 50 in offensive efficiency. Only four or five teams were in the top 50 in both offense and defense.

Point guard Austin Reaves and De’Vion Harmon have declared for the NBA Draft. Harmon could change his mind. Brady Manek is a senior but the NCAA is granting an extra year of eligibility to seniors. Freshman Trey Phipps has already transferred to ORU in Tulsa. Forward Victor Iwuakor has transferred to UNLV to play under new head coach Kevin Kruger, son of Coach Lon Kruger, who just retired.

So, Moser has roster holes to fill. Moser has been in contact with OU signees and he is expected to make some announcements about new players soon. He is assembling a staff of assistants but wasn’t ready to announce who.