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Tulsa Promotes Crissy Strimple to Head Softball Coach
6/12/2019 9:58:00 AM | Softball
TULSA, Okla. — The University of Tulsa has named former Golden Hurricane slugger Crissy Strimple as the school's sixth head softball coach, Vice President & Director of Athletics Derrick Gragg announced today. Strimple has spent 14 seasons in the Tulsa dugout as a player and coach, including the last eight seasons as the associate head coach.
During her time with the Golden Hurricane, TU student-athletes earned 64 all-conference honors, 29 NFCA All-Region laurels and six NFCA All-America awards. The program amassed 464 wins, five regular-season conference titles, six conference tournament crowns and 10 NCAA Regional appearances.
"As a 12-year assistant who has helped build the TU softball program both as a coach and student-athlete, Crissy is the ideal person to take over as head coach," Gragg said. "She has demonstrated an outstanding ability in all aspects needed to be a successful head coach at the highest level of collegiate softball. Crissy's attributes in coaching and recruiting, as well as her loyalty, work ethic and commitment to her Alma Mater make her the perfect fit in continuing the success of Tulsa softball."
"It is an honor to accept the position of head softball coach at The University of Tulsa," Strimple said. "Sincere and heartfelt thanks to Dr. Gragg and Crista Troester for trusting me with this opportunity. Coaching the Golden Hurricane has been a dream of mine since I played here in 2003. The university and City of Tulsa hold a special place in my heart and to represent both is an honor.
"Many thanks to John Bargfeldt, my mentor and friend for life, for his guidance over the last 12 seasons. Coaching under John, I have learned so much about the game and how to do things the right way. His influence on Tulsa softball will endure for a long time to come. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors. I am excited to assume my new role and, with the help of my coaching staff and student-athletes, I look forward to continuing and building upon our winning tradition."
"Crissy has been a loyal and great assistant for me for a number of years and I am very excited that she is getting this well-deserved opportunity," former TU head coach John Bargfeldt said. "One of the things that I've noticed around the country is how many people are being hired for head coaching positions who have much less experience than what Crissy possesses. I'm also happy that the student-athletes will have continuity with Crissy at the helm. I always thought of Crissy as the heir-apparent with the way she has been so loyal to the university and to me. I am confident that she will continue to give the program nothing but her utmost effort and dedication. I wish her nothing but the very best in her new role."
Strimple mentored the Tulsa infielders and served as the recruiting coordinator in her role as associate head coach. Her infielders have produced six NFCA All-Region selections, 23 all-conference awards and an All-America honor. She was instrumental in the development of Jill Barrett, who claimed three all-conference certificates and closed her career in 2014 as a second-team NFCA All-American and Conference USA Player of the Year.
She has coached an infield defense that contributed to two record-setting seasons in fielding percentage and one in fewest errors. The 2010 squad committed a program-low 36 errors, and the 2010 and 2011 teams fielded at a .975 clip, matching the 2005 team for best fielding percentage. The 2017 team nearly matched that mark with a .974 fielding percentage.
Since 2008, the TU offense has set eight separate single-season school records, including batting average, hits, runs, RBI, home runs, slugging percentage and on-base percentage.
Strimple played third base for TU during the 2002 and 2003 campaigns, following a two-year tenure at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.
As a player with the Golden Hurricane, Strimple led the team with 10 home runs as a senior and she was the team's Offensive Player of the Year in both her junior and senior seasons. Defensively, she holds the top two single-season assist totals in the Tulsa record book. Strimple also became the first freshman in Northeastern Oklahoma A&M history to earn first-team NJCAA All-America Region II honors.
Strimple returned to Tulsa after serving as an assistant coach at Central Arkansas in 2007. While at UCA, Strimple was responsible for the coordination of recruiting, as well as supervising the academic progress of the team. She also worked heavily with the defensive schemes for the Bears.
Prior to her stint at UCA, she served as the director of softball operations at Arkansas for two seasons (2005-06). Strimple also was a team manager where her duties included travel, equipment, field maintenance and general management of the softball office.
Strimple graduated from The University of Tulsa in 2003 with a degree in exercise sports science before she earned her master's degree in education with emphasis on sports administration from Arkansas in 2006.
During her time with the Golden Hurricane, TU student-athletes earned 64 all-conference honors, 29 NFCA All-Region laurels and six NFCA All-America awards. The program amassed 464 wins, five regular-season conference titles, six conference tournament crowns and 10 NCAA Regional appearances.
"As a 12-year assistant who has helped build the TU softball program both as a coach and student-athlete, Crissy is the ideal person to take over as head coach," Gragg said. "She has demonstrated an outstanding ability in all aspects needed to be a successful head coach at the highest level of collegiate softball. Crissy's attributes in coaching and recruiting, as well as her loyalty, work ethic and commitment to her Alma Mater make her the perfect fit in continuing the success of Tulsa softball."
"It is an honor to accept the position of head softball coach at The University of Tulsa," Strimple said. "Sincere and heartfelt thanks to Dr. Gragg and Crista Troester for trusting me with this opportunity. Coaching the Golden Hurricane has been a dream of mine since I played here in 2003. The university and City of Tulsa hold a special place in my heart and to represent both is an honor.
"Many thanks to John Bargfeldt, my mentor and friend for life, for his guidance over the last 12 seasons. Coaching under John, I have learned so much about the game and how to do things the right way. His influence on Tulsa softball will endure for a long time to come. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors. I am excited to assume my new role and, with the help of my coaching staff and student-athletes, I look forward to continuing and building upon our winning tradition."
"Crissy has been a loyal and great assistant for me for a number of years and I am very excited that she is getting this well-deserved opportunity," former TU head coach John Bargfeldt said. "One of the things that I've noticed around the country is how many people are being hired for head coaching positions who have much less experience than what Crissy possesses. I'm also happy that the student-athletes will have continuity with Crissy at the helm. I always thought of Crissy as the heir-apparent with the way she has been so loyal to the university and to me. I am confident that she will continue to give the program nothing but her utmost effort and dedication. I wish her nothing but the very best in her new role."
Strimple mentored the Tulsa infielders and served as the recruiting coordinator in her role as associate head coach. Her infielders have produced six NFCA All-Region selections, 23 all-conference awards and an All-America honor. She was instrumental in the development of Jill Barrett, who claimed three all-conference certificates and closed her career in 2014 as a second-team NFCA All-American and Conference USA Player of the Year.
She has coached an infield defense that contributed to two record-setting seasons in fielding percentage and one in fewest errors. The 2010 squad committed a program-low 36 errors, and the 2010 and 2011 teams fielded at a .975 clip, matching the 2005 team for best fielding percentage. The 2017 team nearly matched that mark with a .974 fielding percentage.
Since 2008, the TU offense has set eight separate single-season school records, including batting average, hits, runs, RBI, home runs, slugging percentage and on-base percentage.
Strimple played third base for TU during the 2002 and 2003 campaigns, following a two-year tenure at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.
As a player with the Golden Hurricane, Strimple led the team with 10 home runs as a senior and she was the team's Offensive Player of the Year in both her junior and senior seasons. Defensively, she holds the top two single-season assist totals in the Tulsa record book. Strimple also became the first freshman in Northeastern Oklahoma A&M history to earn first-team NJCAA All-America Region II honors.
Strimple returned to Tulsa after serving as an assistant coach at Central Arkansas in 2007. While at UCA, Strimple was responsible for the coordination of recruiting, as well as supervising the academic progress of the team. She also worked heavily with the defensive schemes for the Bears.
Prior to her stint at UCA, she served as the director of softball operations at Arkansas for two seasons (2005-06). Strimple also was a team manager where her duties included travel, equipment, field maintenance and general management of the softball office.
Strimple graduated from The University of Tulsa in 2003 with a degree in exercise sports science before she earned her master's degree in education with emphasis on sports administration from Arkansas in 2006.
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