OKLAHOMA CITY — USA Softball has announced the Coaching Pool selected to guide the U.S. Women’s National Team (WNT) through the 2025-2028 quad, which includes WNT Camps and international events. Approved by the USA Softball Board of Directors, Patty Gasso (Oklahoma – Head Coach) will lead the WNT as head coach, joined by assistant coaches John Bargfeldt, Trisha Ford (Texas A&M), Kelly Kretschman (AUSL Volts), JT Gasso (Oklahoma), Chris Malveaux (Auburn), Lincoln Martin, Stacey Nuveman-Deniz (San Diego State), Jen Rocha (Oklahoma) and Natasha Watley.
“USA Softball is excited to have a talented team of assistant coaches who will train and prepare our athletes over the next four years,” said Chief Sport Development/Performance Officer, Chris Sebren. “This group brings a great mix of experience, including former U.S. Olympians and new coaches, as well as individuals who have previously been involved in the program. Together, they will work tirelessly to ensure that our teams are ready to take on the world.”
Patty Gasso — Head Coach
Gasso, head coach at the University of Oklahoma, has been involved with the USA Softball Women’s National Team (WNT) program since 2018, as she led the U.S. Women’s Elite Team during the World Cup of Softball. Additionally, Gasso has participated in various USA Softball training camps and selection trials, further demonstrating her commitment to fostering excellence within the sport and contributing to the development of aspiring athletes. An esteemed NFCA Hall of Fame head coach, Gasso is entering her 31st season at the helm of Oklahoma Softball. She recently concluded a remarkable run at the 2024 Women’s College World Series (WCWS), where the Sooners achieved their fourth consecutive National Championship, a historic milestone that distinguishes them as the only softball program in history to accomplish this feat.
John Bargfeldt
Bargfeldt, a former assistant coach at Oklahoma State University (2019-2023) and former head coach at the University of Tulsa (2005-2019), brings a wealth of experience to the team. In 2022, he successfully guided the Cowgirls’ pitching staff, helping them reach the NCAA Women’s College World Series for the third consecutive year. During his time at Tulsa, he won eight conference titles and set records for the most wins and the highest winning percentage. Furthermore, he maintained a winning record each season, making him the only coach with at least four winning seasons in Golden Hurricanes history.
Trisha Ford
Trisha Ford, a veteran head coach with fourteen years of experience and a four-time conference coach of the year, is currently the head coach of the softball program at Texas A&M University (2023-Current). She was appointed as the program’s 10th head coach in 2022 after previously coaching at Arizona State (2017-2022), Fresno State (2013-2016), Stanford (2004-2012), and Saint Mary’s (2001-2003). During the 2024 season, Ford led the Aggies to a remarkable 44-15 record, marking the highest number of wins in a season since 2017. The team achieved an impressive 27-2 record at Davis Diamond, resulting in the highest home winning percentage (.931) since 2011. As a result of their successful season, Texas A&M earned the national No. 16 seed in the NCAA Tournament, hosted a regional, and advanced to the NCAA Super Regional for the first time since 2018.
JT Gasso
JT Gasso currently serves as the associate head coach at the University of Oklahoma after spending eight seasons as an assistant (2016-Current). His primary focus is on coaching the outfielders and hitters. Under Gasso’s leadership, the Sooners have achieved remarkable success, winning seven Big 12 regular season titles and five Big 12 Tournament championships. The team has made eight appearances in the Women’s College World Series, securing six national titles, including an NCAA record of four consecutive championships in 2024. This past season, they finished with a record of 59-7, leading the nation in on-base percentage and ranking in the top five for home runs, batting average, slugging percentage, doubles, and OPS. Before his time at Oklahoma, Gasso spent one season as an assistant coach at Michigan State (2014-2015). He played college baseball at Eastern Oklahoma State and East Central University and has been a lead instructor at the Sooner Softball camps for the past 10 years.
Kelly Kretschman
A two-time Olympian, Kretschman has been involved with USA Softball as both an athlete or coach since 2003, competing in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics while also assisting with training for the 2021 Olympic team. Kretschman spent 13 seasons as a professional softball player in the National Pro Fast Pitch (NPF) league, earning three-consecutive NPF Player of the Year awards (2015-2017), before becoming head coach of the USSSA Pride in 2022. Heavily involved in the growth of softball around the United States, Kretschman also currently helps coordinate the USA Softball High Performance Program. Most recently, Krestchman served as the head coach for the 2024 U.S. Women’s Elite Team and an assistant coach for both the 2024 U-18 Women’s World Cup Group Stage Event and the 2025 U-15 Women’s WBSC Americas Qualifier. Announced earlier this year, Kretschman will be a part of the inaugural Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) season in 2025 as the head coach of the AUSL Blaze.
Chris Malveaux
Current co-head coach at Auburn University (2024-Current), Malveaux previously served as an assistant coach at the University of Tennessee, contributing to the Lady Volunteers’ back-to-back Southeastern Conference titles in 2023 and 2024 and their appearance in the Women’s College World Series in 2023. Over three seasons at Tennessee, the team achieved 136 wins, ranking 10th nationally and second in the SEC. A Houston native, Malveaux worked at the University of Missouri from 2019 to 2021 as an assistant and then as associate head coach, while also previously spending time at Kansas (2018), Louisiana (2009-2011 & 2016-2017), Bradley University (2012-2015) and McNeese State (2002-2008). Malveaux has also served as an assistant coach with USA Softball at the 2022 and 2023 Japan All-Star Series.
Lincoln Martin
Following an impressive baseball career at Birmingham-Southern College, Martin earned a contract with the Baltimore Orioles organization, playing professionally from 1993-1997. He then worked as a Major League Baseball scout for 11 years, first with the Houston Astros and later with the Miami Marlins. Currently, Martin is recognized as an expert in developing softball players. At his facility, Top Tier Sports, located near Atlanta, he trains some of the best young softball players in the Southeast.
Stacey Nuveman-Deniz
Nuveman-Deniz, a former U.S. Olympian, is currently the head coach at San Diego State University. She has an impressive background as a two-time Mountain West Coach of the Year and a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, having won gold medals in 2000 and 2004, as well as a silver medal in 2008. Nuveman-Deniz also played a key role in leading the U.S. National Team to two World Championship titles in 2002 and 2006, along with two gold medal finishes at the Pan American Games in 1999 and 2003. During her time at UCLA, Nuveman-Deniz set four NCAA records: 90 home runs, a .945 slugging percentage, 240 walks, and 81 intentional walks. She received four All-American honors and was named Pac-10 Player of the Year three times. Additionally, she ranks first in UCLA history for games played (264), total bases (653), and on-base percentage (.600).
Jen Rocha
Rocha has served as the associate head coach at the University of Oklahoma since 2018. During her time at Oklahoma, the Sooners have won four consecutive national titles from 2021 to 2024 and achieved an impressive record of 59 wins and 7 losses in 2024. The pitching staff also recorded 23 shutouts during the 2024 season. In 2023, Rocha was named the NFCA Assistant Coach of the Year, contributing to the team’s outstanding 61-1 record that season. Before joining Oklahoma, she coached at Florida from 2006 to 2018, Wichita State from 2003 to 2005, and Oregon in 2002. Rocha began her playing career at Long Beach City College before transferring to Oklahoma in 1996.
Natasha Watley
A two–time Pan American Gold Medalist, three-time World Champion, and four-time World Cup Champion, Watley brings a wealth of experience to the team. A member of the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame, Watley led the Bruins to three-straight WCWS appearances and a National Championship title in 2003. As a member of the United States Olympic teams in 2004 and 2008, Watley played a crucial role in securing a gold medal at the 2004 Olympic Games and a silver medal at the 2008 Games. Her nine-year career with the U.S. Women’s National Team made her an immediate gamechanger for Team USA. After her time with the national team, Watley played professionally for the USSSA Pride and Team Toyota in Japan. Since retiring from the sport in 2010, she has continued to be an inspiration and a leader through her work with the Natasha Watley Foundation, where she shares her knowledge, passion, and hope with the next generation of young women.
Coaches chosen for the pool will assist in facilitating camps and training sessions throughout the 2025-2028 quad, including the LA28 Olympic Games. While selection to this pool guarantees support through 2028, the official Coaching Staff for upcoming international events will be announced prior to the event start. The upcoming 2025 season will include The World Games, slated for August 13-17, 2025, in Chengdu, China. The U.S. will compete alongside top opponents from across the world in hopes of claiming its fourth World Games gold medal. For more information on the World Games, click here.
For more information on the Women’s National Team Program, visit USASoftball.com.