PATTY GASSO
GASSO’S RECORD AT OKLAHOMA
Year Overall Conference Finish 2013 57-4 15-2 1st 2012 54-10 19-5 1st 2011 43-19 10-8 5th 2010 47-12 13-3 2nd 2009 41-16 14-4 1st 2008 47-14 16-2 2nd 2007 55-8 14-4 2nd 2006 40-21-1 8-10 5th 2005 50-17 12-6 2nd 2004 45-22-1 11-7 5th 2003 47-14 12-6 4th 2002 49-16 14-2 2nd 2001 50-9 14-2 2nd 2000 66-8 17-1 1st 1999 40-16 11-3 1st 1998 49-15 12-5 2nd 1997 55-19 14-4 2nd 1996 50-20 17-5 1st 1995 43-23 12-4 1st Totals 928-283-2 243-79
GASSO’S POSTSEASON APPEARANCES
Following the 2000 National Championship season, Gasso’s 2001 squad continued the string of success. The 2001 team went on to match many of the accomplishments of the previous year, including a return trip to the Women’s College World Series, a 50-win season and four All-America selections. The team also established its own successes by compiling a school-record 23-game win streak and the program’s first Big 12 Tournament title since 1996. The 2000 Sooners won their third Big 12 regular season title since the league began in 1996 and hosted their first NCAA Regional since 1997. Behind an explosive offense and a dominant defense, the Sooners rolled to a 66-8 record and won their final eight games of the season to capture the first softball national championship in school history. Four Sooners earned All-America honors, with Lisa Carey and Ashli Barrett earning first team recognition. Evans and pitcher Jennifer Stewart were both third team All-Americans and Stewart was also named the Most Outstanding Player of the WCWS. The accolades rolled in as Gasso was named the Dallas Morning News Big 12 Coach of the Year. She and her staff also earned the Midwest Region Coach of the Year award and Speedline/NFCA Division I National Coaching Staff of the Year. In 1999, Gasso led OU to its sixth straight NCAA regional playoff appearance. Along the path to the regional playoffs in Baton Rouge, La., the Sooners seized several awards and honors. For the second time in the three-year history of the Big 12 Conference, OU was crowned regular season champion. Not only were Gasso’s players honored for their accomplishments in 1999, but she was also recognized for her solid coaching effort. Gasso was named the 1999 Big 12 Coach of the Year and joined her staff as the Midwest Regional Coaching Staff of the Year. The 1998 season was probably one of Gasso’s best coaching jobs. However, it wasn’t because of the number of wins and losses or the tournaments won by the Sooners. It was due to the fact the team featured six freshmen. Gasso led the young group to a second-place conference finish and a No. 1 seed in a NCAA Regional. Five Sooners were named to the all-conference squad and three players were named to the All-Midwest Region team.
Gasso continued the trend of reaching new heights in 1997 when the team recorded the then-second best record in school history (55-19). The season was highlighted by two impressive 12-game winning streaks that helped the team to a second-place finish in the Big 12. For the fourth consecutive year, OU advanced to a NCAA Regional. It marked the first time in school history that OU hosted the event. Gasso and the Sooners reached new heights in 1996, recording a 50-20 record, a first-ever Big 12 Championship, and another regional final berth. OU dominated the inaugural Big 12 Tournament, putting five players on the all-tournament squad. Pitcher Jill Most was named the tourney MVP. Gasso’s 1996 squad also became the first team outside of the states of California or Arizona to win the prestigious Pony Tournament. Gasso was recognized by her peers for her team’s performance, earning the Big 12 Coach of the Year award. Again, Sooner players were mentioned as some of the league’s best with 10 players receiving All-Big 12 recognition. In her first season at the helm, the Sooners recorded a 43-23 record, finished second in the conference and reached the regional final. Several Sooners received awards for their play during the 1995 season, including 11 players who garnered allconference accolades (four on the first team). Gasso’s career with the Sooners began in 1995 when she arrived at OU after five successful years at Long Beach City College. Her accomplishments during her tenure at LBCC and since led to Gasso being named to the LBCC Hall of Champions in 2004. Later during the 2004 summer, Gasso was inducted into the inaugural class of the Long Beach City Baseball and Softball Hall of Fame. Gasso was also inducted into the El Camino City College Hall of Fame in 2000. Gasso and her husband, Jim, reside in Norman. Their oldest son, J.T., is an assistant softball coach at Purdue University, while their youngest son, D.J., is playing baseball at Weatherford College.
108 2014 OKLAHOMA SOFTBALL
SOONERSPORTS.COM
2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995
National Champions Women’s College World Series NCAA Super Regional NCAA Regional Women’s College World Series NCAA Super Regional NCAA Regional Women’s College World Series NCAA Super Regional NCAA Regional NCAA Super Regional NCAA Regional NCAA Regional NCAA Super Regional NCAA Regional NCAA Super Regional NCAA Regional NCAA Regional NCAA Super Regional NCAA Regional Women’s College World Series NCAA Regional Women’s College World Series NCAA Regional Women’s College World Series NCAA Regional Women’s College World Series NCAA Regional National Champions Women’s College World Series NCAA Regional NCAA Regional NCAA Regional NCAA Regional NCAA Regional NCAA Regional