OU Softball during the Gasso Era – 27 years of Improvement!

[OUBeliever56A]

Coach Patty Gasso arrived to coach the Oklahoma Sooners beginning with the 1995 season. In the 20 seasons before Coach Gasso, the Sooners accumulated a 562-400 record for a winning % of 58.4 %. Since that initial season with Coach Gasso, the Sooners have won at a 79.1% with a record of 1280-337-2.

The 2021 season was Coach Gasso’s 27th season at OU and produced the 5th National Championship for the program all of which have all occurred under her guidance. Coach Gasso’s record also includes a NCAA Tournament appearance in each of the 27 seasons under Coach Gasso.

In looking at the Sooner seasons with Coach Gasso, I broke the seasons in to 3 sets of 9 seasons to track the progress of the Oklahoma Sooner softball program.

First Nine Seasons:
1995-2003 – 449 W – 140 L – 1 National Championship, 4 WCWS Appearances (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003)

The first nine seasons under Coach Gasso were 1995 to 2003. Those first nine years under Coach Gasso the Sooners had a 449-140 record for a winning % of 76.2%. The best record during that stretch was in 2000 at 66-8 (89.2%) that included the first National Championship trophy for Oklahoma.

The 2000 Championship was the first NCAA Softball not won by a California or Arizona team since Texas A&M won the championship in 1987 and 1983. Since 2000, only Michigan, Washington, Alabama and Florida have joined that group of states with Oklahoma. That trend has maxed out in the last 10 seasons with the non-Cal-Zona states winning 8 of 10 championships. The NCAA Softball world has changed, largely due to the Sooners under Coach Gasso and it all started in 2000.

Highlights of the first 9 seasons under Coach Gasso:
• Won the Big 12 regular season title 3 times (1996, 1999, 2000), finished 2nd 4 times. (Big 12 started in 1996.)
• Won the Big 12 Tourney 2 times (1996, 1999, 2000). Big 12 Tourney runner-up 2 times.
• Nine berths in the NCAA Tournament.
• Reached the Regional Finals 4 times.
• Won the Regional Title 4 times.
• In 4 WCWS appearances, the Sooners finished 1st once, T-5th twice and T-7th once.

Edit: Working on another article I found that the Sooner recruiting classes of 1999 and 2000 were also classes that reached the WCWS all four years of their career. This was something I missed that should have been included in this article originally.

• Best recruiting class winning percentage (4 years) – 1999 class with 81.9% with 212 wins and 47 losses..
• Seasons with 60 wins – 1 (2000)
• Seasons with 55 wins – 2 (1997, 2000)
• Seasons with 50 wins – 4 (1996, 1997, 2000, 2001)
• Seasons with less than 10 losses – 2 (2000, 2001).

The Middle Years:
2004-2012 – 442 W – 139 L with 2 Ties – 0 National Championships, 3 WCWS Appearances (2004, 2011, 2012)

In the middle nine years of Coach Gasso’s tenure the program stayed strong with a 442-139-2 record for a winning % of 75%. Despite that winning percentage the Sooners still lost 20+ games in two seasons. Only one season, 2007 resulted in the Sooners losing single digit games with a 55-8 record (87.3%). But the Sooners were very successful in improving their status in softball in this period as they were the Super Regionals in 6 of the 8 seasons (2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012). The tournament format changed in 2005 including Super Regionals. The middle years under Coach Gasso, while not producing a championship, was successful in was setting the foundation for the next 9 years that has followed.

Here are the highlights during the middle seasons:
• Won the Big 12 regular season title 2 times (2009, 2012), finished 2nd 3 times.
• Won the Big 12 Tourney 2 times (2007, 2010). Big 12 Tourney runner-up 2 times. (No tourney 2011, 2012)
• Nine berths in the NCAA Tournament.
• Reached the Regional Finals 1 time.
• Won the Regional Title 7 times.
• Won Super Regional 2 times.
• In 2 WCWS appearances, the Sooners finished Runner-Up once, T-7th once.

• Best recruiting class winning percentage (4 years) – 2011 class with 85.4% with 211 wins and 36 losses..
• Seasons with 55 wins – 1 (2007)
• Seasons with 50 wins – 2 (2005, 2012)
• Seasons with less than 10 losses – 1 (2007).

The last Nine years of excellence:
2013-2021 – 465 W – 62 L - 4 National Championships, 7 WCWS Appearances (2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021) * (No championship was held in 2020 due to Covid.)

During the most recent 9 seasons under Coach Gasso, the Sooners became the dominant softball team in the D1 softball world. The winning percentage over these 9 seasons is a lofty 88.2%. Only once did the Sooners lose double digit games (2014 with 13) in this stretch of years. In 3 full seasons, the Sooners only lost 4 or 5 games (2013, 2021 with 4 and 2018 with 5). The Sooners failed to make it to the World Series only once (2015). Here are a few bullet items for these nine seasons:

• 8 Big 12 Regular Season championships and 3 Big 12 Tournament Championships. * (There was no Big 12 play in 2020 and there were only 3 Big 12 Tourneys during these nine seasons.)
• During these 8 seasons the Sooners Big 12 regular season record was 131-9 for a winning % of 93.6%.
• Each recruiting class from 2009 to 2020 (12 classes) has been part of a national championship.
• Each recruiting class from 2012 to 2016 won two national championships with the 2017 class thru the 2020 class having a chance to continue that success.

This decade (minus 1 season) of Sooner teams started with a bang as the 2013 Sooners won the Sooners second Championship with a 57-4 record (93.4%). The 2013 season remains the best winning % for a season of OU softball.

The recruiting class of 2009 that were seniors in 2013 included Brianna Turang. Keilani Ricketts, Jessica Shultz and Michelle Gascoigne. This class led the surge by the Sooners as this class won at a clip of 81.7% during their four seasons (2010-2013) with 201 wins against 45 losses. The 201 wins were the fifth class to top the 200-win mark under Coach Gasso. They started their career as freshman with a berth in the Super Regionals at Washington where they lost 2 of the 3 games. They made it to the World Series in 2011 and lost their first two games. In 2012, they were runners-up to Alabama. They were the first team of Sooners to be at the World Series 3 of 4 years.

The 2010 recruiting class (2011-2014) included Destinee Martinez, Javen Henson and Brittany Williams repeated that success with a winning % of 81.7% and 205 wins and 46 losses. They collected their championship rings from the 2013 season along with 3 other WCWS berths. They were the first class to play in the WCWS all four years of their career.

The 2011 recruiting class (2012-2015) including Callie Parsons, Jessica Vest, Georgia Casey, Lauren Chamberlain and was joined by Shelby Pendley as a sophomore compiled an 85.4% with 211 wins and 36 losses. The 85.4winning % set a new class % record under Coach Gasso. The four years included the 2013 championship along with 2 WCWS berths and one super regional berth. The season ending loss in Alabama in Game #3 was a bitter way for them to end their careers as well as leaving a bitter taste in the 2014 classes initial season. This class includes the owner of the D1 Career HR record holder, Lauren Chamberlain with 95 round trippers.

The 2012 recruiting class (2013-2016) with Paris Townsend, Kady Self and Erin Miller helped to generate a first for the Sooners, a class that won 2 National Championships (2013, 2016). This class ‘watched’ the upperclassmen win in 2013 and then lead the way during the 2016 championship run. They also reached the WCWS in 2014 as sophomores. They continued the winning ways for the Sooners with a 214-34 for an 86.3 winning percentage that established a new class % record during their four years. Kelsey Stephens joined the team in 2014 as a sophomore and helped the Sooners win the championship in 2016.

The 2013 recruiting class (2014-2017) consisted of one just one player, Macy Hatfield. She provided the leadership for the 2017 championship in addition to being helpful during the 2016 championship run. The record during the four years was 218 wins and 39 losses for a winning percentage of 84.8%. The class reached the WCWS in 2014 during Hatfield’s freshman season.

The 2014 recruiting class (2015-2018) consisted of Nicole Pendley, Kelsey Arnold, Paige Parker and Leah Wodach. This class set a new standard for Sooner classes as they never lost double-digit games during their career. Their career record of 244 wins and only 31 losses for an 87.8% winning percentage was the best-ever for a Sooner softball class when they left the program. They won the national championships in the 2 middle years (2016, 2017) of their careers. Their bitter loss to Alabama was an integral part of this class and was repeated in their final season in 2018 as they lost twice at the World Series to Washington while defeating Arizona State and Florida. Both endings to their seasons, were bitter pills to swallow. Paige Lowary and Hannah Sparks joined this class as juniors in 2017 and were part of the 2017 national championship.

The 2015 recruiting class (2016-2019) consisted of Sydney Romero, Shay Knighten, Caleigh Clifton, Reagan Rogers, Kylie Lundberg and Falepolima Aviu. They burst onto the softball scene at Oklahoma with the biggest bang of any class in Sooner history. They were instrumental with 4 starters in the two initial championships for this class in their two initial seasons in 2016 and 2017. Their Top 4 finish at the WCWS and their runner-up finish in the 2019 are the best results recorded during a four-year stretch for Oklahoma softball. Their career record was 232 wins and 28 losses for an 89.2% winning percentage was once again the highest for a class when they graduated. Their records broke or tied all the records set a year earlier by the 2014 class. Their 232 wins is a Sooner record for 4 years. The combination of the 2014 and 2015 classes could very well be the highpoint for all consecutive classes to chase that follow them at Oklahoma. This class was the second class for the Sooners to play in the WCWS all four years of their career.

The 2016 recruiting class (2017-2021) was the class that COVID hit squarely in the face. The shortened 2020 season (20-4) also gave them an extra season to play for Oklahoma. The class consisted of Nicole Mendes for the full 5 seasons. This was the Sooner class that perhaps was most affected by players transferring away from OU after beginning their career as a Sooner. The transfers were in my mind, due to competition for playing time at OU. That competition is the reason for the Sooners success. The competition for playing time is a double-edged sword. The Mendes class has the most wins by a class with 251 wins and 28 losses (90.0%) during the 5 seasons art OU. Winning any type of contest at a 90% rate is very difficult. If the 2020 season is removed from their record, the career winning % is 90.6% and includes 231 wins and only 24 losses. The wins rank second in all-time and the losses rate the fewest by any class. This class won 2 national championships (2017, 2021) and finished in the top 4 and as the runner-up in the WCWs the other two seasons. The class record is very similar to the 2012 class with bookend championships. It also continued the streak of 5 classes with two national championships. This is the 3rd class for the Sooners to play with all four full seasons ending in a WCWS berth. Giselle Juarez and Shannon Saile joined the Sooners as transfers for the 2019 season and played 3 years with Mendes. They were part of the 2021 Championship and the 2019 runner-up season at the WCWS.

The 2017 recruiting class (2018-2022) that included Lynnsie Elam and Jocelyn Alo has one final campaign remaining in 2022 before their career record is completed. So far, thru 4 seasons they have a career record of 190 wins and 19 losses for a winning percentage of 90.9% which is the highest four-season mark. Taking away the 2020 season (20-4) they have marks of 170 wins and 15 losses for a 91.9% winning percentage. They could finish with less than 20 losses during their four full seasons at OU. They are part of the 2021 national championship as well as the top 4 finish in 2018 and the runner-up finish in 2019 in their 3 WCWS appearances. To continue the streak of 2 national championships during their careers they need to repeat as champions in 2022. They should be strong contenders to do just that in 2022. So far, this class has been to the WCWS each season. Can they add their names to the Sooner classes to reach that goal in all four seasons of their career? Taylon Snow joined this class in 2020 and Jana Johns joined this class in 2021. They were both part of the 2021 championship.

The 2018 recruiting class (2019-2023) that included Grace Lyons and Grace Green has two more seasons to play at OU if they chose to do so due to the 2020 shortened season. Their 3-season record is 133 wins and 14 losses for a winning % of 90.5%. If the 2020 record is removed, they have a 113-10 (91.9%) record in two full seasons. They were part of the runner-up season of 2019 and the national championship team in 2021. With Coach Gasso recruiting as well as she is, they have a good shot at adding a second title to their career in 2022 or 2023.

The 2019 recruiting class (2020-2024) of Rylie Boone, Kinzie Hansen, Mackenzie Donihoo, Macy McAdoo has played in two seasons. Their freshman season was the 2020 covid season that was cut short. They have three seasons remaining that they can play in 2022-2024 if they desire. Their career record of 76 wins and 8 losses equals a 90.5% winning clip. In their only full season of 2021, they won at a 93.3% winning clip and won a national championship with the 56-4 record. With the strong nucleus of the players from the 2020 class plus incoming classes of 2021, 2022, 2023, The 2019 Class has an excellent chance to add national titles to their collection. National championships are never given before you play the games, but the odds should be with any Sooner team for the next several years.

The 2020 recruiting class (2021-2024) of Nicole May, Tiare Jennings, Jayda Coleman joined the 2012 and 2015 classes as Sooner champions in their first true season as freshmen. Their initial campaign was the superb 56-4 (93.3%) season that just completed in May. As mentioned above, this class will have every chance to add to the national championships for the Sooners under Coach Gasso.

The next Nine Seasons:
What will the next 9 years of Sooner Softball accomplish? There is the change to the SEC for one challenge that is going to happen which will be a new challenge and new destinations for the Sooners during the regular season. Will Coach Gasso remain at the leader of the program of all nine upcoming years? She certainly looks like she could do that with her energy, drive and pride in the program and what has been built at Marita Hynes Field. The newly announced Love’s Field that could be built and ready for the 2023 season should help in every way possible as future players are recruited to play for the Sooners. Imagine being able to recruit players to a new facility and tell them they can realistically win 9 of every 10 games and reach the WCWS all four years of their career if they join the Sooners! Matching and even surpassing the 4 championships in the most recent nine years will be a tough goal to accomplish with the expanded competition and popularity across D1 softball.

With past as an indicator, the Sooner softball program has the ability to do just that especially with Coach Gasso at the helm of the program.

Boomer Sooner!

[walt]

That is some spectacular group of records of excellence in all facets of coaching, recruiting and overall and being a great person. Patty Gasso will never be replaced at OU. Not possible. I just hope that she hangs on for lots of years of the same kind of excellance.

[OU Guy]

Wow @OUBeliever56A thanks for that amazing writeup! Its something what she’s done for the program and credit to her for getting the new softball complex pushed over the finish line. Without success there’s likely no way we get the money needed to build it.

Here’s some more amazing data on how popular OU softball is this is just for Nov 2021:

[OU_Tom]

Wow @OUBeliever56A

I think that sums it up perfectly . What a great writeup. Thanks!

Patty has really done a remarkable job inthe27years that she has been at OU. From right out of the gate 27 years ago, she turned the team into a winner. As good as her teams were for the first 18 years, they have been even better the last 9 years. In the last 9 years, has surpassed to become the best team in the big 12 and at the same time also become probably the best team in college ball. As good as has been, they don't appear to be slowing down.

Thanks again OUBeliever