Rooted to Rise: The Redwood Legacies of Life-Anchoring People

A reflection on the people who shape us and the moments that mold who we become.

In Rooted to Rise, Sherri Coale gathers the stories, lessons, and relationships that have shaped her life. She shows how the people around us, from mentors and teammates to family and friends, leave lasting marks that influence who we become. Some moments arrive suddenly and change everything. Others unfold quietly but make an impact that stays with us for years.

Coale invites readers to look closely at the voices and connections that guide them, offering perspective and clarity for anyone seeking meaning in both ordinary and extraordinary experiences.

Ideal for: leaders, coaches, teachers, parents, and readers who value personal growth, reflection, and stories grounded in real life.

Rooted to Rise is a guide for paying attention to what shapes us and choosing how we rise.

Top Amazon Reader quotes to incorporate Root to Rise:

Her writing feels warm and poetic, and every story draws you toward the next. Readers describe feeling pulled through each chapter by the people who influenced her journey and by reflections that echo their own experiences.

This book reminds you that people are our greatest treasures. Coale’s storytelling highlights how relationships, both simple and profound, help us grow and stay grounded.

Rooted to Rise makes you think, feel, laugh, and pause. It blends heart and insight in a way that stays with you long after you finish reading.

Coale brings every person she writes about to life. Readers often finish the book feeling as if they have met the individuals who shaped her and gained wisdom from each encounter.

Her reflections show just how connected we all are, offering a timely reminder of the threads that bind us and the lessons we carry from one another.

In twenty-five years as the head coach of the University of Oklahoma women's basketball team, Sherri Coale's numbers speak for themselves. She led her program to three Final Fours, won six Big 12 Regular Season Championships and four Big 12 Tournament Championships, had nineteen straight NCAA Tournament appearances, and made nine Sweet 16 appearances. 
 
Her emphasis on academic and athletic excellence for her players resulted in the Sooners receiving 127 Academic All-Big 12 honors during her tenure. Coale's success as a coach earned her a spot in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2016.
 
Coale also has a passion for giving back to her communities. Her teams were always committed to organizations within the University of Oklahoma's communities, from their hometown of Norman to Oklahoma itself.
 
Sherri Coale married her husband, Dane, in 1987. The couple has one daughter, Chandler; one son, Colton; and one daughter-in-law, Morgan. They also have one amazing granddaughter, Austyn, born March 8, 2021.