Why the Beers family is looking forward to another NCAA Tournament run, now with OU

Raegan Beers knows when her dad is in the stands. She can hear him. 

“He has a distinct whistle,” the Oklahoma star center said on ESPN on March 7 after the Sooners beat Kentucky in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament. “As kids, we were trained to hear it. It means my ears are perking up and I’m ready to go. He’s yelling at me inside my head right now.”

Ike Beers’ whistling is something he started when his kids were young. He used it at their Lakewood, Colorado, home as a signal to his four kids that it was time to come home, as they often played down the street in their neighborhood. 

Years later, it’s a reminder that he’s by their side. 

“I wish she wouldn’t have said that on national TV. It makes me sound like a crazy person,” Ike said with a laugh. “I tried to make it loud enough so that they could hear it anywhere within an earshot… It’s just the way I get their attention. That’s Dad’s call. Now when I whistle, she knows I’m there. She knows it’s time to lock in and get to work.” 

Raegan Beers’ dad is everyone watching their team in March 😭 pic.twitter.com/p0gwX79NZZ

— Tyler DeLuca (@TylerDeLuca) March 7, 2025

Saturday at the Lloyd Noble Center, you might hear Ike’s now-famous whistle, as the entire Beers family — dad Ike, mom Kari, sister Rylie, and brothers Rocky and Rowdy — all plan to be in attendance to watch Raegan and No. 3 seed Oklahoma in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. For the Beers family, sports is a family affair. 

Ike was a standout high school basketball player in Illinois, as was his wife Kari, who once earned All-State honors. Rocky and Rowdy have both played Division I college football — Rocky is currently a tight end at Colorado State and Rowdy most recently played at Florida International and is now training to become a firefighter. Their youngest, Rylie, will be a freshman at Belmont College where she earned a basketball scholarship. 

And obviously, Raegan, who is one of the most dominant players in women’s college basketball this season. This season, she’s averaging a team-high 17.5 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game for the Sooners. She was a first-team All-SEC selection, an AP All-American and is a finalist for the Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Award. 

This weekend, the focus will be all on her, as she hopes to lead the Sooners to their first Sweet 16 since 2013. And that wouldn’t be unfamiliar territory for Raegan, who helped Oregon State reach the Elite Eight last year. 

“For her to be able to have that and understand the urgency is huge,” coach Jennie Baranczyk said. “When she’s the one who is talking about the balance of the team and that being the essential key, I think that’s obviously some insight into how you continue to win and you go on a run. And she’s really had to come in and navigate a new style of play and the national exposure you actually get coming off an Elite Eight finish. But then also coming into the SEC where the national exposure is huge. So there’s a lot to navigate in that.”

The national spotlight won’t get any bigger than the next couple of weeks for March Madness. Raegan is hoping to replicate last year’s magical run. And so is her family, who will be by her side for the ride. 

“We’re looking forward to March Madness,” Ike said. “Now there’s these expectations and now there’s this pressure. And I pray she’s handled it out there with grace. I feel like she has. It seems like the folks (at OU) love her. I think she’s accomplished what she’s wanted in trying to make that transition successful and trying to ultimately help her team win basketball games and be a difference.”

Entering the transfer portal following last year’s run to the Elite Eight wasn’t easy for Raegan. 

A McDonald’s All-American out of Valor Christin High School in Colorado, she was the crown jewel for Oregon State women’s basketball. She chose the Beavers over UCLA, UCONN, Colorado and Oklahoma. As a sophomore, she started all 31 games for the Beavers and averaged career highs in points (17.5), rebounds (10.3), assists (1.6), blocks (1.3) and steals (1.2).

But there was something neither her nor Oregon State could control that left her with no option but to look elsewhere. 

“We were frustrated at the leaders of the Pac-12 for what they did to these kids and these schools,” Ike said. “Raegan had no plans to leave Oregon State. Not that Oklahoma’s not a great school and she obviously loves where she’s at right now and God had a plan, but she never wanted to leave Oregon State. Scott Rueck is a wonderful coach and great human being. And Corvallis is a special, special place. We loved the fans and Raegan loved all of her teammates.

“It broke her heart to see that team start to dissolve after the NCAA Tournament. It’s kind of the dirty part of college sports right now. Sometimes, you have to look at what’s best for you. It ultimately came down to, ‘Can I get to where I want to go in the West Coast Conference?’”

Once in the portal, she only considered two schools — OU and UCONN. At first glance, one might assume the Sooners have no chance against the greatest women’s basketball program of all time, which boasts an NCAA record 11 national titles. 

But Raegan wasn’t just looking for a basketball home. She was looking for a school that could help her become a elementary school teacher, while also helping her achieve her dream of playing in the WNBA. 

“Coach Jennie and their staff really did an amazing job,” Ike said. “They did their homework because they introduced her to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and took her to where they do ceramics for classes at OU. And they spent a long time talking to her about how she could become a teacher and still play basketball through OU’s program and what that would look like. I think the path educationally was going to be a little more difficult at UCONN and ultimately, I think after some time and prayer, she was confident in choosing Oklahoma.” 

Raegan has seemingly adjusted well. Her teammates have raved about her selflessness on and off the court. 

That’s no surprise to her family, who are strong in their faith and believe sports offering something greater than winning. 

“I really think Raegan has grown out in Oklahoma,” Ike said. “She is surrounded by amazing people. And the school itself has gone above and beyond in supporting her and the team and coach Jennie and her staff. It’s been a really great time of transition. 

“Sports is finite. Everybody stops playing and then you have the rest of your life to see what God has given you. Sports are a game and they aren’t going to last forever. It’s about the impact you can have on other people.”

Ike knows a thing or two about impacting others. 

A former member of the Navy self-defense force team and a police sergeant for over 20 years in Lakewood, he might seem intimidating if you’ve never met him. 

He’s easy to spot in the crowd. At 6-foot-5, he looks like he could play for Bill Bedenbaugh on Oklahoma’s offensive line. He’s often sporting a crimson polo with an unusually large interlocking OU. Sit next to him at one of his daughter’s basketball games and you might lose your hearing, either from his loud whistle or his occasional barking at the officials. 

But looks can be deceiving. Heck, even his last name is deceiving. 

“The irony is we don’t drink,” Ike said. “We get a good chuckle out of that. We’ve had some fun with it over the years.” 

The Beers family follows after its father in a lot of ways. His kids have all gone on to be successful athletes, which he credits his wife for more than himself. But they’re also known for their kindness off the field and court. 

That’s been evident in Raegan’s short time in Norman. 

“I think she has grown a lot,” Baranczyk said. “She’s been able to fall down, she’s been able to get up, she’s been able to build up her teammates, her teammates have been be able to build her up. I love her development in terms of her leadership, but that’s too simple. I think her confidence has really grown. It took her a long time. Raegan wants her friends — she wants everyone to feel good.” 

Raegan gets that mindset from her dad. 

“She’s like her dad,” Ike said. “She’s a people pleaser, she’s a culture kid, she’s relational. We don’t know a stranger.”

Following an over hour long interview with SoonerScoop, Ike asked to meet. And added that he loves to meet people at games, as many fans quickly realize he’s Raegan’s dad. That’s sure to happen Saturday afternoon. Just follow the whistling and you’ll find him. 

He and his family are grateful for the opportunity to be a part of Sooner Nation. And they relish in the opportunity their daughter has, not just to win at a high level, but to accomplish something greater in life. 

“It’s hard not to be proud as a parent,” Ike said. “I prefer to use the word humble. All of our kids, they are who they are sometimes in spite of us. Because every person is their own individual person. And every heart is different… I’m humbled that our kids try to live out their faith. And for Raegan specifically, right now, she has a platform. 

“She can use her platform to give hope and happiness to other people. And seeing that as a parent, it’s humbling.”