Gasso Named To LBCC Hall Of Champions

University of Oklahoma softball head coach Patty Gasso will be inducted into the Long Beach City College Hall of Champions on March 26. Gasso began her head coaching career at LBCC before taking her current post at OU. Gasso had a 161-59 career record for the Vikings, which included four conference and two regional titles. She was also named California Coach of the Year and National Fastpitch Coaches Association West Regional Coach of the Year in 1992.

“My times at Long Beach City were some of the best of my life,” said a gracious Gasso. “ There is a lot of great history at LBCC, from coaches to players. The programs are always among the nation's elite. It is a big deal to me because some of my best friends are still there and they put me up for this award. It's just an extreme honor.”

After five seasons in Long Beach she accepted the head coaching post at OU, where she has led the Sooners to the 2000 NCAA Championship and four consecutive Women's College World Series.

The outstanding tradition of the Long Beach City College intercollegiate athletics will be recognized with the induction of 12 new members. Gasso enters the Hall with current major leaguer Damien Easley, former San Diego Charger Gary Garrison, former California Angel Dave Frost, and former Milwaukee Buck Chuck Terry, among others.

The Sooner head coach has a career record of 638-208-1 (.753) and OU career record of 476-149-1 (.760).

Gasso and the Sooner program have received numerous accolades during the last year. Gasso was honored by the Easton Victory club in December (2003) for notching the 600th win of her career. During the fall, her program was ranked as the fifth best of all-time by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. This spring junior ace Kami Keiter was inducted into the Colorado Sportswomen Hall of Fame for the numerous state and national awards she has claimed during her softball career.

The ninth-ranked Sooners begin the Big 12 season this weekend with a pair of trips to Texas A&M and Baylor. OU and A&M will square off at 2 p.m., Saturday, and Noon, Sunday. Due to the schedule conflict, Gasso will not be attending the ceremony.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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