Patty Gasso presented as USA Softball Women's National Team head coach: 'We will put in the hard work necessary to earn a gold medal in LA28'
USA Softball begun its journey to reclaim the Olympic women's softball gold medal at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games after officially introducing Patty Gasso as their new head coach, aiming for gold in 2028.
"This moment is truly special in my career. It feels like a dream come true to be appointed as a coach of Team USA. There's a lot of responsibility to that," Gasso said in front of a packed auditorium at Devon Park in Oklahoma City. "Being chosen for this role was the highest honour a coach could ever receive. I'm both humbled and grateful for the confidence that USA Softball has in me."
In her first address as head coach of the USA Women's National Softball Team, 62-year-old Gasso made it clear that her goal is to maximize the team's potential during her tenure. "I firmly believe we will put in the hard work necessary to earn a gold medal at LA28. That has been the ultimate goal since softball became part of the Olympics," she said.
The first international challenges for Gasso as a head coach include the Pan American Championship in Colombia in June and The World Games in Chengdu, China, from 13 to 17 August. "We hope to take our first steps in that journey. Some things are going to be introduced that I think a lot of the athletes have not been able to work with. And that is the analytic side and body tendencies and things that they have not maybe seen before. So I'm really excited about that," she said.
"There's so much to accomplish between now and our first event. Including coordinating schedules and selecting the coaches who are going to be part of the programme over the next four years. So I look forward to getting to know the athletes."
Asked about her coaching staff, she made clear her ideas. "I do see myself having some of the elite coaches. I need elite hitting coaches. I need elite pitching coaches. And I need some of the old goats who have won gold medals who know how to do this," she explained. "I'm the manager. I love defence. I love to call games. I really do my research as to what to do in that way. I think the former Olympians could help me in that as well. But we're going to have the best-of-the-best looking at video, looking at swings, breaking it down, adjusting when needed. We're going to give these athletes the weapons to do what they need to do."
The conversation moved quickly to how she envisions the 15-player Olympic roster for LA28 and how difficult will be to make this decision. "I know everyone is fighting in America to be one of the 15. And the process is going to be tough, but it's going to be fair," she said.
Gasso, who has won 1,395 games as Oklahoma City head coach in a 30-year career, explained that she will need multiple-position athletes to play the Olympics. Every infielder needs to know how to play every position in the infield. Same thing with the outfield. Some infielders can play outfield. Not all outfielders can play infield. Catchers need to play the corners. Pitchers, if you can hit, awesome. If you can hit and play first, even better. "With 15 athletes, you have to really see what they can do to help you," she said.
Living and working in Oklahoma for many years, Gasso feels at home at Devon Park, the proposed venue for the Olympic Softball competition at LA28. "There are so many benefits and opportunities for us to really make it our home. Fans are going to come from everywhere, just like they do at the NCAA World Series, but I'm so excited for Oklahoma City. Is it ever going to come back here again? I don't know. To me it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that can change this city, can change this state. And I'm so excited for that. I really am."
In 2028, Gasso will become the first female coach leading a USA Softball Olympic team. USA Softball CEO Craig Cress said they went into the selection process with one objective, and that was to pick the person they felt like could take USA to that gold medal. "We were looking for the best person to take us to that next level," he said.
"Another phenomenal honour to be the first woman to lead a softball Olympic team. I feel a little bit of pressure in that, but I love pressure, so it doesn't bother me one bit," added Gasso. "It's going to be probably the highlight of my career and my life in softball, which has been a long time. I'm honoured to represent women coaches who sometimes get overlooked, so this is a great honour for me, and I will do everything in my power to win that gold medal."