OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University baseball coach Denney Crabaugh and his assistant Keith Lytle have been named university employees of the year for 2008-09.

Crabaugh and Lytle led the Stars to a 53-9 record and a tie for third place in the NAIA World Series last year. Under their guidance, OCU has won as many games as Florida State (973) to lead all college baseball programs in the nation since 1991.

The Stars captured the 2005 NAIA championship after finishing as national runner-up three years in a row. OCU has been to the NAIA World Series 11 times, captured six Sooner Athletic Conference championships, 11 area and regional crowns and posted 11 50-win seasons in a row.

“Keith and Denney love Oklahoma City University and have become an integral part of the university,” OCU athletic director Jim Abbott said. “To earn this recognition is fitting.”

Crabaugh has led OCU to a 1,039-322-2 record in 21 years as head coach.

“I've been honored to have been associated with this university for more than 20 years,” Crabaugh said. “It's been spectacular. I have loved this university and the people I've worked with.”

Crabaugh is a member of the NAIA Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He has been named NAIA coach of the year in 2003 and 2005 as well as Oklahoma Baseball Coaches Association coach of the year three times.

OCU owns NAIA single-season records for wins (73) and home runs (161). The Stars surpassed their record homer total of a year ago and OCU's record-setting total in 1999. OCU has produced 112 professional players since 1987. Forty-nine of those were drafted.

Lytle has been recognized as one of the top hitting instructors in the nation since arriving at OCU in 1989, Crabaugh's first year as head coach. He and Crabaugh have coached five players who became NAIA player of the year and Freddy Sanchez, who became 2006 National League batting champion.

In 2003, Lytle was named AFLAC national assistant baseball coach of the year. Lytle has served as assistant hitting coach and first base coach for the Oklahoma City RedHawks the past three years. He was bullpen coach for the Oklahoma City 89ers in 1990-91. The RedHawks are the Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, as were the 89ers.

Among the athletic department, rowing coach Mike Knopp was named 2004-05 OCU employee of the year.