Tulsa betting on Patty Gasso bloodline to turn in-state program around

Patty Gasso has been leading the Oklahoma Sooners almost as long as Tulsa has even had a softball program, so if you're the Golden Hurricane down the highway in the same state, why not try to inject that OU DNA into your own team?

Tulsa on Friday officially announced DJ Gasso, the son of Patty Gasso, as its new head coach to replace Crissy Strimple, who was a TU softball alum who led her alma mater for seven seasons before getting fired. DJ will be the Golden Hurricane's seventh head coach since becoming a program in 1993. Patty took over the Sooners two years later in 1995 and has been dominating college softball ever since. Ironically, DJ was born that same year so has only ever known his mom as OU's head coach and has spent literally his entire life around the sport.

DJ Gasso named TU's head coach and his last named could take Golden Hurricane to new level

"Throughout the hiring process it became clear that he possesses all the necessary qualities of what we were looking for in a head coach," TU athletic director Justin Moore said in a statement. "His resumé speaks for itself, as he has been one of the best hitting coaches in the nation for the last several seasons. We are confident our program is in great hands and cannot wait for the spring."

Right now, if you Google DJ Gasso's name, his top description comes up as "Patty Gasso's son." But that could soon change depending on what he does while leading a program and could make a name for himself in college softball. And so far, he's moved himself up the ranks with little help from his legendary mom, other than the famous last name.

DJ spent the last three seasons as Arkansas' hitting coach while helping turn the Razorbacks into a legit national contender under head coach Courtney Deifel, who got her coaching start as a graduate assistant under Patty in 2008-09. Arkansas just made the Women's College World Series for the first time in program history after getting upset in Super Regionals in 2025.

Before Arkansas, DJ was also the hitting coach for three seasons at Utah, where he was again part of a program's rare trip to the WCWS in 2023. The Utes' staff that year was also named the D1Softball National Coaching Staff of the Year.

DJ, though, ultimately got his start as a graduate assistant under his mom at OU after a baseball career with stops at Hutchinson Community College, Bradley and Central Oklahoma. That beginning propelled the rest of his career.

The entire Gasso family is now made up of softball coaches. DJ's father, Jim, is the head coach at Mid-America Christian in Oklahoma City and his brother, JT, is OU's associate head coach under Patty.

Regardless of his lineage, DJ has earned this opportunity with his success at everywhere else he's been, but it'd be ignorant to believe his last name hasn't helped and will also be a benefit for Tulsa. DJ not only grew up learning from his mom, but still has her brain to pick today. The name Gasso will also catch the attention of just about any recruit, especially in Oklahoma, where there's loads of softball talent.

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