OU softball coach Patty Gasso has no plans to retire anytime soon after securing her 8th WCWS title.
Jayda Coleman celebrates walks as enthusiastically as walk-offs, Alyssa Brito performs the Soto Shuffle, and Rylie Boone proudly pounds her chest amid chants of “BOOOOOEENS.”
If you follow the unwritten rules of the game, OU softball might not be for you. They don’t disrespect their opponents, but they play with unapologetic flair—hitting bats, stomping bases, and shouting “LET’S GOOOOOOO!!!!” countless times each game.
The Sooners clinched their fourth consecutive national championship on Thursday by playing their own way, a style that initially clashed with their old-school coach, Patty Gasso.
“When I first saw them throw the bat down after a walk, I thought, ‘What are you doing? Don’t do that,’” Gasso said. “‘You might hit someone.’ But they do it. They even do it in practice. I’ve learned to let them be who they are.
“My old coach wouldn’t allow any of this.”
This adaptability is what makes Gasso a great coach and will continue to do so. She quickly adapts and seeks to understand, evolving with the times in ways some coaches never could.
Gasso has every right to be strict. She has won eight national championships, tying former Arizona coach Mike Candrea for the most all-time. With over 1,500 career wins and a winning percentage above 80%, she is still willing to change.
Even after completing a historic four-peat in her thirtieth year as head coach, Gasso, at 63, shows no signs of retiring. The rest of college softball shouldn’t expect her to step down anytime soon.
“I’m ready to get back to coaching,” Gasso said, pointing to the seats where her star seniors had just sat. “They know. They have it. They coach each other. I’m really excited about what’s to come.
“I love what happened with our freshmen. Oh dear. I did not expect that. The future looks very, very bright.”
Gasso is comparable to Nick Saban in college softball—or perhaps Saban is the Gasso of college football.
National Championships: Gasso 8, Saban 7.
Gasso is the best coach in OU history, across all sports.
Gasso and the Sooners have claimed six of the last eight softball titles, an achievement nearing the dominance of John Wooden, who led UCLA men’s basketball to 10 national championships in 12 years.
It’s not far-fetched to imagine the Sooners achieving a five-peat or six-peat.
Could Gasso catch Geno Auriemma? The UConn women’s basketball coach, still active at 70, has 11 national championships. Although a tall order, the Huskies are no longer as dominant in women’s basketball as the Sooners are in softball.
Gasso is now tied with legendary Tennessee women’s basketball coach Pat Summit with eight national championships.
One more title would place Gasso ahead of Candrea for the most in Division I softball history. With her eighth, Gasso surpassed former UCLA coach Sharron Backus.
Gasso is in a league of her own among active softball coaches.
Just when it seemed like Kenny Gajewski’s Oklahoma State or Mike White’s Texas might dethrone Gasso, the Sooners reminded everyone that they dominate the sport until proven otherwise.
And they’re not afraid to be bold about it.
“This generation has taught me a lot about coaching,” Gasso said. “They taught me to accept who they are and what it looks like… I just let them be them.”
She lets the kids play.
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