Hall of Fame
Phil McSpadden has built the nation's finest small-college softball program and most storied program in the NAIA at Oklahoma City University, capturing 10 national championships, the most in NAIA history, while becoming college softball’s leader in wins against four-year schools.
McSpadden has directed OCU to 1,745 victories in 33 years. McSpadden recorded his 1,700th victory 5-3 on April 5, 2019 against Panhandle State in Oklahoma City. OCU gave McSpadden his 1,458th and 1,459th career wins on April 10, 2015 at Ann Lacy Stadium to surpass NCAA victory leader Margie Wright.
Among many accolades, McSpadden owns membership in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame, NAIA Hall of Fame, Oklahoma Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the OCU Athletics Hall of Fame.
McSpadden has been recognized as national coach of the year by the NFCA three times, NAIA coach of the year 10 times, region coach of the year once and five-time Sooner Athletic Conference coach of the year. He and his staff have been NFCA NAIA coaching staff of the year nine times.
In 33 years at OCU, McSpadden leads all college softball coaches in wins vs. four-year schools with a 1,745-387 record (.818 winning percentage). He has guided OCU to 15 national championship games, five national runner-up finishes, 30 trips to the NAIA Softball World Series, 22 50-win seasons, 13 55-win seasons and seven 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 28 SAC titles under McSpadden.
McSpadden guided the Stars to the program's 10th national championship in a 4-1 triumph over Corban (Ore.) on June 1, 2017 in Clermont, Fla. McSpadden has notched a 1,745-387 record in 33 years as OCU coach.
In 2019, the Stars (61-8) finished national runner-up for the sixth time in program history. OCU secured its NAIA Softball World Series berth by winning the NAIA Championship Opening Round Oklahoma City Bracket. Oklahoma City, which opened the year at No. 1, upended top-ranked Science & Arts of Oklahoma and halted the longest winning streak in college softball for the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament championship.
McSpadden has coached 105 all-Americans, 45 NAIA scholar-athlete award winners, 17 CoSIDA academic all-Americans, seven NAIA players of the year, three NAIA pitchers of the year, seven NAIA catchers of the year and five 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. 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.
