Oklahoma hands softball coach Patty Gasso new contract, averaging $2.05 million per year
The Oklahoma Board of Regents approved a historic new contract for University of Oklahoma softball coach Patty Gasso during a Friday meeting in Tulsa.
Gasso, who has led the Sooners to four consecutive national titles, received a new deal that will average $2.05 million annually through the 2028 season, not including posssible performance bonuses.
Already the highest-paid coach in college softball, Gasso’s previous contract paid her $1.775 million for this past season and had been scheduled to pay her $1.825 million as of July 1. Instead, her compensation as of July 1 was retroactively increased to $1.9 million. It is scheduled to increase by $100,000 annually in each of the three future years.
She will be entering her 31st season with Oklahoma in 2025, having led the Sooners to eight Women’s College World Series titles and a 1,515-352-2 record since taking over in 1995.
Gasso’s staff members also earned raises. Associate head coaches Jen Rocha and JT Gasso will each make $300,000.
Oklahoma football update to stadium master plan approved
The Oklahoma Board of Regents also approved updates to the Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium master plan during its Friday meeting in Tulsa.
The approved item included approval to negotiate the terms of an agreement for architectural services with Populous, Inc. for “the further design and development of stadium projects consistent with the master plan updates.”
Notably, it is conceptualized that development will include “playing field lighting improvements.” The next phases of upgrades expected to come to OU football’s stadium includes improvements and enhancements to the west lower bowl, the west upper deck, the press box and other upgrades.
The Board approved planning, programming and schematic design phase costs for $7 million “to review program and design options and develop an accurate project budget.” Funding for this portion of the project has been identified from the athletic department and other private funds.
Oklahoma baseball coach Skip Johnson’s new contract approved
Oklahoma baseball’s coaching staff — head coach Skip Johnson, assistant head coaches Todd Butler and Reggie Willits, and director of operations Ryan Gaines — also received raises.
Johnson’s new deal will run through 2029. He’ll make an average $1.28 million annually throughout the duration of the contract, including $1 million in 2025 and up to $1.5 million during the 2029 season.
The school announced on June 29 that Johnson had agreed to a new contract after reportedly interviewing and being in the mix for Texas A&M’s head coaching job.
