OCU Softball Coach To Receive NAIA Honor

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Longtime Oklahoma City University softball coach Phil McSpadden will be inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in May, university officials said Tuesday. <br/><br/>McSpadden has guided

Tuesday, August 28th 2007, 6:17 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Longtime Oklahoma City University softball coach Phil McSpadden will be inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in May, university officials said Tuesday.

McSpadden has guided OCU to eight NAIA titles and two runner-up finishes during his 20 years at the school. This past season, OCU won the national title and McSpadden was named the NAIA coach of the year for the eighth time.

During his tenure, the Vinita native has coached 34 All-America players, four NAIA players of the year and two NAIA pitchers of the year. Four former OCU players have helped their countries win Olympic medals.

McSpadden has a career record of 1,075-259, and a .806 winning percentage. He will be recognized during next year's NAIA tournament.

``The induction of coach McSpadden into the NAIA Hall of Fame is an affirmation of something all of us at Oklahoma City University have long known,'' OCU President Tom McDaniel said. ``Phil is an outstanding coach of national stature with a record to prove it.''

McSpadden coached at Ponca City and Dewey high schools before taking the job at OCU.