Falepolima Steele Makes History: Becomes First Associate Coach to Win Championship Award Twice, Elevating the Oklahoma Sooners Legacy…
Norman, Oklahoma — In a groundbreaking moment for college athletics and women’s sports history, Falepolima “Pole” Steele, assistant coach for the legendary Oklahoma Sooners softball program, has etched her name into the record books by becoming the first associate-level coach in NCAA softball history to win the Championship Coaching Award not once, but twice.
The unprecedented achievement has become a monumental milestone for both Steele personally and for the Oklahoma Sooners program, further cementing the school’s dominance on the national stage and redefining the role of associate coaches in elite sports.
This moment isn’t just a celebration of trophies—it is a celebration of commitment, culture, and an unshakable belief in the value of every voice in the coaching staff.
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A Historic Milestone: Two-Time Championship Coaching Award Winner
Falepolima Steele was honored at the National Collegiate Softball Coaches Association (NCSCA) Awards Gala held in Dallas, Texas, where she received the Championship Coaching Award for the second time in her career. What makes this achievement so monumental is that no other associate or assistant coach in the history of NCAA softball has won the award twice — and especially not while working under the same program, and during an era of consecutive national dominance.
The award recognizes Steele’s indispensable role in leading Oklahoma to back-to-back NCAA Division I Softball Championships. Her leadership in player development, defensive coordination, and team cohesion has been hailed as “the unseen engine” powering the Sooners’ historic reign.
> “Pole Steele has shown the world that leadership isn’t about title — it’s about impact,” said NCSCA Chairwoman Lindsey McCarthy. “She embodies the soul of the Sooners, and her legacy now belongs among the greatest to ever coach this game.”
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The Road to Greatness: Steele’s Evolution as a Coaching Phenomenon
A proud Samoan-American with deep roots in softball tradition and leadership, Falepolima Steele joined the Oklahoma Sooners softball program with a passion for mentoring, developing athletes, and building systems that create both champions and empowered individuals.
Working under Head Coach Patty Gasso and alongside coaching talents like JT Gasso and Jennifer Rocha, Steele quickly emerged as a cornerstone of the Sooners’ powerhouse machine. Her primary responsibilities have included:
Outfield defense strategy
Team morale and leadership training
Recruitment and mentorship of culturally diverse athletes
Game-day decision support and player analytics
But perhaps what sets Steele apart most is her ability to connect deeply with her athletes, especially under pressure. During crucial moments in postseason play, Steele has been the one players look to for calm, clarity, and confidence.
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Two Championships. Two Eras. One Coach.
Steele’s first Championship Coaching Award came during the Sooners’ iconic 2021 national title run, a season remembered for its record-breaking offense, tight pitching, and emotional depth following a pandemic-interrupted 2020 campaign.
In 2024, she earned the award again — this time not just for performance, but for her vital role in reviving the team spirit after mid-season injuries, a stretch of adversity, and doubts from national media. Her ability to rally the team from those trials and help lead them to another national crown has been described as “nothing short of legendary.”
> “She is our rock,” said team captain and All-American centerfielder Kaitlyn Cruz. “Coach Steele knows what to say when the lights are the brightest. She’s been there for us when nobody else saw us struggling. And that’s why we play for her.”
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A Symbol for Representation and Inclusion
Steele’s rise to prominence is especially significant for marginalized groups within collegiate sports. As a proud woman of Polynesian heritage, her ascent represents progress, visibility, and inspiration for future generations of coaches from diverse backgrounds.
At the awards ceremony, she paid tribute to her roots and community:
> “This isn’t just my award. It belongs to my family, my ancestors, and every young coach who doesn’t see themselves represented in this game. Keep going. You belong here. You matter.”
Her words sparked standing ovations and trended across social media under hashtags such as:
#SteeleLegacy
#SoonerSoul
#TwoTimeTrailblazer
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The Patty Gasso Effect: A Coaching Tree Like No Other
Patty Gasso has long been recognized as the matriarch of elite college softball, but her coaching tree is now arguably her most powerful legacy. With JT Gasso already drawing national attention, Jennifer Rocha becoming a name to watch, and now Falepolima Steele making NCAA history, Oklahoma’s bench is one of the most decorated and dynamic in all of sports.
Gasso commented emotionally on Steele’s achievement:
> “Pole has changed lives. She’s made this program deeper, stronger, more united. What she’s done off the scoreboard is even more impressive than what we see in stats. And that’s saying a lot, because she’s one of the best strategists in the country.”
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Rewriting What It Means to Be an “Assistant”
Steele’s double award win is more than a line in a résumé — it’s a cultural shift. It sends a clear message that associate coaches, often overlooked by mainstream coverage, are fundamental to championship-level success.
NCAA officials, sportswriters, and athletic directors have taken notice. Already, several top programs have begun reassessing their coaching hierarchy, compensation structures, and visibility efforts for associate staff — all influenced by Steele’s impact.
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What’s Next for Coach Steele?
With her profile soaring and her legacy secured, many are wondering: will Steele eventually take the helm of her own program?
While athletic directors across the country would likely leap at the opportunity to sign her, sources close to the Sooners program suggest that Steele is content — for now — to continue building the dynasty she’s helped create in Norman.
> “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be than Oklahoma,” Steele said. “This is family. This is home. And there’s still more work to do.”
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A Legacy Etched in Championship Gold
Falepolima Steele’s achievement — as the first associate coach in history to earn two national championship coaching awards — is more than a personal accolade. It is a beacon of excellence, a rewriting of norms, and a reminder that greatness knows no rank or title.
She has broken barriers, uplifted athletes, and left a mark that will resonate in the halls of Oklahoma athletics forever.
And in doing so, she didn’t just elevate herself.
She elevated the entire Oklahoma Sooners program — showing that behind every historic team is a tapestry of brilliant minds, passionate hearts, and trailblazers like Falepolima Steele, who lead with power, humility, and unshakable belief.
Sooner Nation stands prouder than ever — because legends like Steele are writing new history, one championship at a time.
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