‘It’s amazing’: Patty Gasso statue revealed outside Love’s Field on Friday
Oklahoma softball head coach Patty Gasso shed a tear as she watched the black cloth uncover her history making statue.
Surrounded by family, fellow coaches, former and current players, and many proud fans, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Famer was honored in bronze outside Love’s Field Friday afternoon.
Tears of joy fell down Gasso’s face when President Joseph Harroz Jr., Vice President and Athletic Director Joe Castiglione as well as former players Kelsey Arnold and Lynnsie Elam-Phillips gave speeches to honor her.
“This is going to be bronze when you see it, but it might as well be gold, because she has set the standard for the entire sport, and we could not be more proud of her,” Castiglione said.
“So, in closing, Patty, I think on behalf of people that can’t say it, you gave people inspiration, you gave them a vision, and you gave them hope that if they committed to something really special, bigger things could happen.
“When they look at this statue, they’re going to remember what you did to inspire others to be better than they thought they could be themselves.”
Gasso has not only impacted the sport of softball, but also the world of women’s sports. During her 31 seasons at Oklahoma, Gasso has won eight national championships, including four in a row, and has advanced to the postseason every year. She has also been named Big 12 Coach of the Year on 15 different occasions and is the winningest active coach in NCAA softball history.
Sculpted by Brian Hanlon, the statue marks the first of a female coach or athlete in school history.
“I mean, it’s amazing. Like we’ve said all day, coach has impacted us young women so much, on and off the field, and she’s so deserving of this statue, and I love this,” said former OU player and four-time national champion Jayda Coleman. “She’s the only women’s statue on campus. I love it, and I’m just so proud of her.”
