Utah’s run is ‘pretty cool’ for DJ Gasso, son of OU coach
DJ Gasso grew up on the diamond. That should come as no surprise considering he’s the son of OU head coach Patty Gasso, whose storied career includes six Women’s College World Series championships and 15 Big 12 regular-season titles.
DJ spent his formative years rolling down the hills at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium and playing with the flowers. There are even photos of him being bottle fed by his mother on the complex’s practice field.
Those were good times for DJ, who knew he wanted to one day coach at that very venue in the Women’s College World Series. And that day has come.
Now an associate head coach for Utah, DJ will coach at the stadium where he spent much of his youth. The 15th-seeded Utes will begin their WCWS run with a game against seventh-seeded Washington at 8:30 p.m. Thursday.
DJ will also share a bracket with his mother, whose top-seeded Sooners are searching for their third straight national title. They’ll begin their run with a game against ninth-seeded Stanford at 2:30 p.m. Thursday.
“It’s cool,” DJ said. “I don’t think it’s really hit us that we’re both in the World Series. ... But I think once this weekend is done, we’ll probably look back and say, ‘Hey, that was pretty cool that we were all there.’”
DJ spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at OU before becoming an assistant coach at Utah in June 2020.
The Norman native has flourished in his new setting, becoming an associate head coach in December, and Utah’s program has also thrived since then.
After going 22-33 (3-21 Pac 12) in 2021, Utah went 42-14 (15-9 Pac 12) this season. It then secured a Super Regional win over San Diego State on Sunday to earn its first WCWS appearance since 1994.
“I think that’s probably the coolest thing of it all,” DJ said. “When I got there, (the WCWS) wasn’t a goal. It wasn’t anything anyone thought we could do. … Being able to have the team believe in that goal and that dream, I think the coaching staff is extremely proud of that.”
Patty is also proud.
After securing its spot in the WCWS with a Super Regional win over Clemson on Saturday, Patty watched Utah book its spot from the comfort of her home.
“Watching it as a mom, I was kind of nervous,” Gasso said. “I said I was proud of him (after the game). He’s just done a really, really good job.”
DJ is set to accomplish a lifelong goal of coaching in the Women’s College World Series, and sharing the same field as his mother only makes it that much more special.
But if DJ learned one thing from watching Patty rack up championships at OU, it’s that the main focus for this weekend is winning games.
“You’re not there to participate,” DJ said. “You’re there to win. I guess that’s the Gasso family. We’re a very competitive group, and we want to win. There was a moment of ‘Congrats. That’s awesome for you guys.’ But you’re here to win the thing.”