Softball Announces Staff Additions

NORMAN – University of Oklahoma softball head coach Patty Gasso announced Tuesday several additions to the coaching staff for the 2022 season.

Joining the program as a volunteer assistant coach is Kristen Zaleski. Zaleski joins the Sooners following two seasons as the head coach at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and a nine-year head coaching tenure at Temple (Texas) College.

"For Kristen, not many programs can get a head coach to come be your volunteer unless she's someone that is committed to being the best she can be," said Gasso. "She has the championship mindset; she's been at our camps and she perfectly fits our program. She is going to add a tremendous amount of knowledge to our staff and has an elite softball mind. We're really excited about her joining us."

During her time at Temple College, Zaleski led the Leopards to five conference titles and the 2018 NJCAA Division I national championship. She was named Co-Coach of the Year for Region V North in 2018 and 2019, and her staff claimed NFCA NJCAA Coach Staff of the Year in 2018.

A 2004 graduate of Texas State University, Zaleski was a two-time NFCA All-American with the Bobcats and finished her career with Southland Conference records of 291 hits and 128 stolen bases.

Zaleski played five seasons as a professional in the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) League, playing with the Texas Thunder and Rockford Thunder. She earned NPF Most Valuable Player honors in 2005 and was named to the U.S. National Training Team in 2006 to compete for a spot on the 2008 U.S. Olympic squad.

2019 OU alumna Fale Aviu returns to Norman to serve as a graduate assistant.

Aviu rejoins the Sooners following one year at Ole Miss where she served as a student manager. She was previously on staff with the Sooners for the shortened 2020 season as a student assistant following her graduation in 2019.

An NFCA All-American in 2019 and three-time All-Big 12 selection, Aviu ranks in the top 10 for career doubles (45), hit by pitch (36), sacrifice flies (9) and games played (255) for the Sooners. She helped the Sooners reach the Women's College World Series all four years of her career, winning the 2016 and 2017 national titles.

The Oceanside, Calif., product finished her career with a .328 batting average, 177 runs batted in and 25 home runs. Aviu played one season as a professional with the USSSA Pride and recently signed with the Florida Vibe to play in their inaugural season in 2022.

2021 alum Shannon Saile also joins the staff as a graduate assistant. Saile will help associate head coach Jennifer Rocha with the OU pitching staff.

"Anytime you get an opportunity for your former athletes to come back—they know the program and they know our style—that's always a plus," continued Gasso. "Specifically, Fale's one of the smartest players I've ever coached and she's great to have back. Shannon, for her to stick around says a lot about what this program means to her and she's going to be someone our pitchers can look up to, as someone that has recently done it."

An All-Big 12 First Team selection as a redshirt senior last season, Saile helped lead the Sooners to the 2021 national title with a 1.33 ERA, 132 strikeouts and a 17-1 record in the circle. The Land O'Lakes, Fla., native finished her career ranked second in program history for strikeouts per seven innings (9.75) and sixth in opponent batting average (.172). She combined on one no-hitter and one perfect game during her time as a Sooner.

Saile played professionally this past summer with Team Florida and signed a pro deal with the Florida Vibe to play in the team's inaugural season in 2022.

Another 2019 grad, Kylie Lundberg, joins the support staff as an office manager for the 2022 season. The two-time Academic All-Big 12 Team selection helped the Sooners to four WCWS appearances during her time as a Sooner, including the 2016 and 2017 national titles.

Lundberg will assist director of operations Jackie Livingston with day-to-day responsibilities related to team travel, scheduling and camps.

Returning for her third season on staff is two-time NFCA First Team All-American Sydney Romero. An Olympian with Team Mexico at the 2020 Tokyo Games, Romero will resume her role as graduate assistant for the second consecutive season after serving as a student assistant for one season in 2020.

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Players Mentioned

Shannon Saile

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University of Oklahoma Athletics