OCU?s McSpadden to enter NFCA Hall of Fame
Dec 12, 2013
Story by Rich Tortorelli, OCU Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
SAN ANTONIO – Oklahoma City University softball coach Phil McSpadden has been chosen for induction into one of softball’s most elite fraternities, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Hall of Fame, the NFCA announced at its convention recently.
The 2014 NFCA Hall of Fame class will include McSpadden, SUNY Cortland head coach Julie Lenhart, Alabama-Huntsville head coach Les Stuedeman and NFCA executive director Lacy Lee Baker. Read more in the NFCA release.
McSpadden has built the nation’s finest small-college soft¬ball program and most storied program in the NAIA at Okla¬homa City University, capturing eight national cham¬pionships, the most in NAIA history.
McSpadden’s induction into the NFCA Hall of Fame will make him a member of three hall of fames. He entered the NAIA Hall of Fame in 2007 and the OCU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010.
“This is very humbling to be included in this exclusive club,” McSpadden said. “It means quite a bit to be honored by your peers. I’ve had the privilege of being surrounded by many outstanding individuals here at Oklahoma City University, and those players and coaches share in this achievement.”
McSpadden has been recognized as national coach of the year by the NFCA three times, NAIA coach of the year eight times, region coach of the year once and four-time Sooner Athletic Conference coach of the year. He and his staff have been NFCA NAIA coaching staff of the year seven times.
In his 27th year at OCU, McSpadden leads all current NAIA softball coaches in wins with a 1,368-342 record for a .800 winning percentage. He has guided OCU to 12 national championship games, four national runner-up finishes, 25 trips to the NAIA Championships, 17 50-win seasons and four 60-win seasons. McSpadden’s 1999 team won more games than any NAIA team has ever with 69. OCU has captured 10 regional titles, five bi-district titles, five district titles and 19 SAC titles un¬der McSpadden.
Last year, the Stars went 51-15 and advanced to the NAIA Championships after winning the inaugural NAIA Championship Opening Round Oklahoma City Bracket title. OCU led the NAIA in run scored (493), runs batted in (429), doubles (136) and at-bats (1,867). OCU opens the 2014 season in the Cowtown Classic on Feb. 14-15 in Fort Worth, Texas.
McSpadden has coached 75 all-Americans, 35 NAIA scholar-athlete award winners, 10 CoSIDA academic all-Americans, five NAIA players of the year, three NAIA pitchers of the year, four NAIA catchers of the year and three four-time all-Americans. Four former OCU players have helped their country win Olympic medals.
In 1988, McSpadden came to OCU and started a tradition of dominance with a bang by guiding the team to three consecutive national tournaments. After missing the tournament in 1991, McSpad¬den’s teams have qualified for the national tournament every year.
Prior to coming to OCU, McSpadden coached at Ponca City and Dewey high schools, compiling an impressive 127-40 record in five years while leading teams at both schools to state tournaments. While at Dewey, his teams won the school’s first three crowns in any sport.
A native of Vinita, Okla., McSpadden played baseball at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College and Oral Roberts. He graduated from ORU in 1977 with a business management degree. He earned his master’s degree in business education from Oklahoma State in 1980.
McSpadden has two sons, Matthew and Aaron.
SAN ANTONIO – Oklahoma City University softball coach Phil McSpadden has been chosen for induction into one of softball’s most elite fraternities, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Hall of Fame, the NFCA announced at its convention recently.
The 2014 NFCA Hall of Fame class will include McSpadden, SUNY Cortland head coach Julie Lenhart, Alabama-Huntsville head coach Les Stuedeman and NFCA executive director Lacy Lee Baker. Read more in the NFCA release.
McSpadden has built the nation’s finest small-college soft¬ball program and most storied program in the NAIA at Okla¬homa City University, capturing eight national cham¬pionships, the most in NAIA history.
McSpadden’s induction into the NFCA Hall of Fame will make him a member of three hall of fames. He entered the NAIA Hall of Fame in 2007 and the OCU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010.
“This is very humbling to be included in this exclusive club,” McSpadden said. “It means quite a bit to be honored by your peers. I’ve had the privilege of being surrounded by many outstanding individuals here at Oklahoma City University, and those players and coaches share in this achievement.”
McSpadden has been recognized as national coach of the year by the NFCA three times, NAIA coach of the year eight times, region coach of the year once and four-time Sooner Athletic Conference coach of the year. He and his staff have been NFCA NAIA coaching staff of the year seven times.
In his 27th year at OCU, McSpadden leads all current NAIA softball coaches in wins with a 1,368-342 record for a .800 winning percentage. He has guided OCU to 12 national championship games, four national runner-up finishes, 25 trips to the NAIA Championships, 17 50-win seasons and four 60-win seasons. McSpadden’s 1999 team won more games than any NAIA team has ever with 69. OCU has captured 10 regional titles, five bi-district titles, five district titles and 19 SAC titles un¬der McSpadden.
Last year, the Stars went 51-15 and advanced to the NAIA Championships after winning the inaugural NAIA Championship Opening Round Oklahoma City Bracket title. OCU led the NAIA in run scored (493), runs batted in (429), doubles (136) and at-bats (1,867). OCU opens the 2014 season in the Cowtown Classic on Feb. 14-15 in Fort Worth, Texas.
McSpadden has coached 75 all-Americans, 35 NAIA scholar-athlete award winners, 10 CoSIDA academic all-Americans, five NAIA players of the year, three NAIA pitchers of the year, four NAIA catchers of the year and three four-time all-Americans. Four former OCU players have helped their country win Olympic medals.
In 1988, McSpadden came to OCU and started a tradition of dominance with a bang by guiding the team to three consecutive national tournaments. After missing the tournament in 1991, McSpad¬den’s teams have qualified for the national tournament every year.
Prior to coming to OCU, McSpadden coached at Ponca City and Dewey high schools, compiling an impressive 127-40 record in five years while leading teams at both schools to state tournaments. While at Dewey, his teams won the school’s first three crowns in any sport.
A native of Vinita, Okla., McSpadden played baseball at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College and Oral Roberts. He graduated from ORU in 1977 with a business management degree. He earned his master’s degree in business education from Oklahoma State in 1980.
McSpadden has two sons, Matthew and Aaron.
