STARKVILLE, Miss. - Oklahoma City University's coaching staff has been selected as the National Fastpitch Coaches Association NAIA national coaching staff of the year.

Head coach Phil McSpadden, assistant coach Bobbi Bridges, strength coach Guy Cook, pitching coach Harold Copas and graduate assistant Mindy Crabaugh guided the Stars to a 45-14 record and an NAIA national softball runner-up finish.

The OCU coaches also were the NFCA NAIA Southwest Region coaching staff of the year for the second year in a row.

McSpadden and his assistants have now been honored as the national coaching staff of the year three times. McSpadden, an NAIA Hall of Famer, has directed OCU to 12 national championship game appearances, including eight national titles - both the most in the NAIA.

The Stars earned their way into this year's national tournament by winning the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament title for the third straight year.  OCU lost to Simon Fraser (British Columbia) 4-3 in the championship game.

McSpadden has a 1,222-296 record through 23 years at OCU. OCU has made more appearances (24) in the NAIA softball championships than any other school.