Chickasaw softball coach recieves "Outstanding Coach" award at Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame Gala

This article appeared in the February 2015 edition of the Chickasaw Times

OKLAHOMA CITY – Awesome.

One word summed up Mike Crossley’s experience at winning the Michele Smith Outstanding Coach Award Jan. 14. Mr. Crossley received the award during the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame’s Warren Spahn Award Gala.

For the longtime coach of the state champion Newcastle High School girls’ fast pitch softball team, it was the culmination of honors that came his way after winning his first state championship in 22 attempts.

Already named Oklahoma Coach of the Year, the Chickasaw citizen said being presented the award by Michele Smith was “awesome.” Meeting National League Baseball’s Most Valuable Player and 3-time Cy Young award winner Clayton Kershaw was “awesome,” too.

“Michele Smith is arguably the best female softball player in the world,” Mr. Crossley said. “Getting the award from her was … awesome. It was a great honor.”

VALIDATION

“I think the most important element to come out of all the awards is it validated the program at Newcastle,” Mr. Crossley said. “So many times we would hear our program wasn’t dominant in the state because we had not won a championship. We’d argue by saying we’ve been there 21 times and would always hear ‘but you haven’t won a championship.’ It was frustrating.”

The championship drought ended in 2014 when Newcastle defeated Fort Gibson for the state 4A-2 title after 22 trips to the state tournament. Five of those trips included championship games. A shiny gold trophy is now on display at Newcastle High School.

“Now, I’ll be walking down the hall and see my players and we’ll just smile at each other. We did it. We’re state champions,” Mr. Crossley said.

Other schools are calling with coaching overtures. Mr. Crossley is politely saying “no.”

“I love Newcastle, the school, parents, the fans, my players,” he said. “I could not be happier. I’m coaching children of some of my former players. That is very special. Many of my former players were just as excited about the state championship win as I was.”

WHAT YOU HAVE

Mr. Crossley’s true love of Newcastle is based on teaching and coaching children and then enjoying a link to them throughout life.

“At the college level, coaches recruit,” he said. “In high school, you build teams with what you have, with kids who come and try out. They bring differing styles, differing talents and differing attitudes. Some will be tall and skinny, others will be short and perhaps a little pudgy. So, you take what you have and build on it.

“You teach them to be a team and to overcome adversity. If you can touch a child’s life that is having difficulties outside of the school structure, it is the most satisfying experience a coach can hope for. “Most of these students will only compete at the high school level. Make it fun for them. Make it educational. Make it important to them long after they graduate. I know it sounds like a cliché, but it isn’t. The ball field is a microcosm of the larger experiences of life.”

About Michele Smith and Walter Spahn

Michele Smith is a former Oklahoma State University pitcher and two-time Olympic gold medal winner who played professionally in Japan for many years following her college career. She is a member of the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and was named United States Olympic Committee Sportswoman of the Year two times.

The late Walter Spahn was an Oklahoma-born professional baseball player and the winningest left-handed hurler in baseball history. He is in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame and is a Cy Young award winner. The Spahn award goes to the best left-handed pitcher in professional baseball.