Arkansas
Arkansas hires DJ Gasso as assistant softball coach
FAYETTEVILLE — Four days after it was first reported by D1Softball, the Arkansas softball team announced DJ Gasso has been hired as an assistant coach.
Gasso has spent the past three seasons as an assistant at Utah. He is the son of legendary Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso.
“My family and I are thrilled to be part of the Razorback family,” Gasso said in a press release. “Coach [Courtney] Deifel and her staff have been so welcoming, and I cannot wait to get started with this team….To be representing the great state of Arkansas in front of the best fans in the country will be an incredible honor. I am extremely excited to be in Fayetteville and get to work.”
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The Utes claimed their first Pac-12 Tournament championship in 2023 and made a run to the Women’s College World series. It was Utah’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2017.
Gasso will be Arkansas’ primary hitting coach, according to the release. The Utes were tied for fifth in NCAA Division I with a .327 batting average this year.
Utah improved its average by 22 points from 2021 to 2022, and 38 points from 2022 to 2023.
The Utes ranked 15th nationally with 6.05 runs per game in 2023.
“DJ brings an incredible understanding of mental preparation and offensive strategy, along with an infectious passion for the game that our players will love,” Deifel said in a statement. “He has learned from and worked alongside some incredible coaches in his career. He will deliver an aggressive and exciting style of Razorback softball that I can’t wait to see in action.”
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Gasso’s hiring comes in wake of the resignation of Yolanda McRae, who was the Razorbacks’ primary hitting coach since 2016. Her letter of resignation was submitted June 20.
Gasso joins Matt Meuchel as assistant coaches on Deifel’s staff. A new NCAA rule takes effect in July which will allow softball programs to hire a third assistant coach.