From Oklahoma Athletics
Oklahoma head softball coach Patty Gasso was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame as one of eight members of the 2022 Class Thursday evening in Tulsa.
Gasso, already inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in 2019 and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2012, has become a staple for not only women’s sports, but collegiate sports, in the state of Oklahoma. She becomes just the eighth collegiate coach, and first female coach, to receive the highest individual honor the state can bestow and and the 23rd sports figure in the 95-year history of the Hall of Fame.
“This moment is surreal,” said Gasso in her acceptance speech Thursday night. “To think a woman, a softball coach from California, would be inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, is just overwhelming. I’m truly humbled.”
“Thank you to the Oklahoma Hall of Fame Committee for this distinguished honor and it’s been a pleasure getting to meet all the inductees. I really appreciate them giving me their time and allowing me to get to know them.
“When I reflect on my career at the University of Oklahoma, my thoughts always turn to the loving and gifted people around me,” continued Gasso. “Thank you to my husband for encouraging me, guiding me, keeping me grounded, thank you to my two sons who are here tonight, for allowing me to be a mother and a college coach—which is extremely difficult. Thank you to my assistant coaches, who committed to pushing this program to elite status, thank you to Jackie Livingston, my right-hand woman and longtime director of operations, thank you to President David Boren who hired me 29 years ago, to President Joe Harroz for supporting me and athletic director Joe Castiglione for believing in me and, most of all, thanks to all the athletes who have given us this incredible run. I’ve had the privilege of working with elite female athletes who are also incredible people. Sometimes their story gets lost in softball, but the success of this program was built on their ‘championship mindset,’ their passionate work ethic and their commitment to excellence.”