Gasso Names MacKay to Staff

July 19, 2007

NORMAN, Okla. -- In keeping with the Sooners' national reputation as an offensive force, the Oklahoma softball program added a top offensive mind to its coaching staff as Patty Gasso announced the hiring of Tripp MacKay as the new assistant coach on Thursday. MacKay will be responsible for OU outfielders and offensive instructing.

MacKay is a familiar name in the state of Oklahoma as he began his collegiate career at the University of Florida and played his final two seasons at Oklahoma State where he was a two-time All-American and a member of the 1996 College World Series squad. MacKay graduated with a degree in Physical Education from Oklahoma State in 2000.

The second baseman moved on to the professional ranks after being drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 1996 draft. MacKay played for the Vermont Expos and the Cape Fear Crocs in the Montreal Expos organization from 1996-97 and finished his professional play in the Northern League from with the Winnipeg Goldeyes (1998-99) and Sioux City Explorers (1999-00).

"I am thrilled that Tripp will be joining our staff," Gasso said. "I have known Tripp and his family for a while and I have followed his career both as a successful college player and an instructor. He has an extreme passion for the game and has a talent for getting the most out of his athletes. He was brought up on hitting and will quickly make a huge impact on this program. This will be a great fit for us and I am anxious to get Tripp started."

MacKay began his career with valuable coaching experience at the high school and collegiate level as an assistant coach from 1997-2000 with stops at Blinn College, Palm Beach Community College and Northeast Texas Community College.

He has spent the last seven years as a private hitting instructor in Dallas and has been a partner of the Dallas Performance Edge Hitting Academy since 2004. MacKay has been instrumental in all aspects of the softball side of the academy including pitching, hitting, fielding, catching, base running and position specific skills.

While serving as an instructor at Performance Edge, MacKay has also found time to broaden his coaching credentials. The Columbus, Miss., native has served the last two years as the hitting instructor at Mike Candrea's University of Arizona Summer and Holiday Camps while also serving as a coach at the University of Oklahoma softball camp this past summer.

Prior to his stint at Dallas Performance Edge, MacKay served as a hitting instructor at the Dallas Baseball Academy of Texas from 2000-04 while also serving as the head coach of the Dallas Tigers baseball team for three years.

"I'm so excited for this opportunity and looking forward to working for an elite program like Oklahoma," MacKay said. "It will be great experience getting to work with Coach Gasso and Coach Lombardi and I'm ready to dig in and get started."

Growing up with a baseball family, MacKay's father, Jack MacKay, was the chief bat designer for Louisville Slugger from 1990-1997.

The 33-year-old MacKay married the former Holly Cooper. The couple has two kids; Ali (3) and Jack (2).

MacKay replaces former OU assistant Howard Dobson who took the head coaching job at Southern Miss in June.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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