Lisa Carey Added to Sooner Staff

Jan. 12, 2012

NORMAN, Okla. — Oklahoma softball head coach Patty Gasso announced on Thursday the return of former Sooner All-American Lisa Carey who will join the Sooner coaching staff in a volunteer role. Carey returns to Norman after a nine-year stint as head coach at Washburn University in Topeka, Kan.

A three-time All-American at Oklahoma, Carey was instrumental in OU capturing its first ever Women's College World Series title in 2000. The 2000 Big 12 Player of the Year, Carey was named to the WCWS All-Tournament team as she finished the championship season with a .405 batting average.

“Lisa is without question one of the best athletes to ever come out of this program. As a three-time All-American, she knows how to win,” said Gasso. “She has extensive head coaching experience at Washburn and this is an opportunity to bring in someone who knows the style of the Oklahoma program and its expectations. This move not only benefits the players, but benefits me as well as it gives our staff another set of eyes on the field. I'm looking forward to the head coaching experience she brings to the program and at the same time rejuvenating her love for the game.”

The first ever softball player in the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame, Carey was a member of three Big 12 Championship teams. Along with her .405 batting average, Carey led the Big 12 with 90 hits, 20 home runs, 77 RBI, 173 total bases and a .779 slugging percentage as a senior.

Following her career at Oklahoma, Carey took her first coaching job at Washburn where she compiled a 256-221 record, the most wins in the program's history. Carey took the Lady Blues to the NCAA Division II Tournament twice in 2006 and 2008.

In nine seasons at the helm of Washburn, she coached 55 Lady Blues to all-MIAA honors, seven all-region team selections, the 2007 MIAA Freshman of the Year, the 2009 MIAA Most Valuable Player, 57 MIAA Academic Honor Roll award winners as well as an ESPN The Magazine Academic all-district selection.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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