Dr. Dot Richardson and Bob Pinto
Head Softball Coach, Liberty University
Dot Richardson was named the fifth head coach in the history of the Lady Flames softball program. During her time at Liberty, Richardson has helped guide a resurgence of the softball program. The Lady Flames have improved in the win-loss column nearly every year under her guidance. Entering the 2020 season, Richardson has led the Lady Flames to a 206-164 overall record. Richardson is considered one of the most decorated collegiate, national and international players in softball history. She helped Team USA win Olympic gold in Atlanta in 1996 and Sydney in 2000, hitting the game-winning home run in the gold medal game in 1996. Internationally, she also played in five Pan American Games (1979, 1983, 1987, 1995 and 1999) and five World Championships (1982, 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1998). As a member of the team, the U.S. won five Pan American Game gold medals and four World Championship gold medals. As a collegiate player, Richardson was a five-time All-American, earning AIAW All-America honors at Western Illinois and three All-America honors at UCLA. After transferring to UCLA from Western Illinois, she was recognized one year as an All-American by both organizations. She is the founder of the Dot Richardson Softball Association – a not-for-profit organization which provides instruction to coaches and athletes to help them reach their full potential. As part of this foundation, a travel ball organization was founded, with Richardson coaching "Dot's Diamonds" to NSA National Championships at both the 10U and 18U levels.Through the Dot Richardson Softball Series, Inc., Richardson has organized and taught at instructional camps and clinics throughout the nation since its founding in 1984. “I am a child of God. I am a princess of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I have accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Do you know that He loves all of us SO MUCH that He came to earth to give His life as the “Perfect Lamb”; the ultimate sacrifice needed to cover our sins. When Jesus died on the cross, was buried and on the third day rose from the dead; conquering death He paid it ALL for us so we can truly live in freedom, truth and life everlasting - an eternal life with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; our God. I believe in Him, I trust Him, I live because of Him and for Him. He has my heart and soul ... does He have yours? If not, get to know God - He knows you and loves you VERY MUCH!
Bob, who has been married to Richardson since 2001, has coached extensively at the collegiate, high school, travel and professional levels over the past 34 years.Bob has conducted coaches' and players' clinics worldwide since 1998 through the Dot Richardson Softball Series. Additionally, he started and has served at the national director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Softball Ministry from 2009 to 2013.
Before Liberty, he spent two years (2012 and 2013) as co-head softball coach at Montverde Academy in Montverde, Fla. While serving as coach of the Eagles, he helped lead his team to back-to-back FHSAA Regional appearances. In 2013, the Eagles won the district championship and advanced to the 3A state semifinals, where they came in third place.
At the collegiate level, Pinto first gained experience as an assistant coach at the University of New Haven. He then assisted at Adelphi, which competed at the NCAA Division I level at the time. Bob took over as head coach at Division I LIU-Brooklyn in 1993, with the Blackbirds posting a 24-13 record during his first season. During the span of two years at Long Island, Pinto's' teams went 44-34. A native of Stamford, Conn., he has coached travel ball at the 12U, 16U and 18U levels. Bob has coached at five different high schools, beginning as an assistant coach at Greenwich High School in Greenwich, Conn. He played a key role in developing the Profastpitch X-treme Tour. Pinto was the inaugural National Site Director for the tour and had responsibility for all on-site operations. Bob grew up in the church but never really accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior until after his dad passed away in 2009. Since then he has a passion to serve the Lord. He loves bringing together Champion Athletes of influence who love Christ to help spread the Gospel.
Jim and Patty Gasso
Head Softball Coach, University of Oklahoma
Having recently completed her 25th season at the University of Oklahoma, NFCA Hall of Fame head coach Patty Gasso has molded the OU softball program into a national powerhouse and permanently placed herself among the elite college softball coaches in the country. Oklahoma has won four national championships, winning in 2000, 2013, 2016 and most recently in 2017. OU is one of just three programs in NCAA history to win more than two national titles. She's reached the Women's College World Series 13 times during her tenure, and in the process, advanced to the postseason in each one of her 25 seasons.
Jim Gasso has played a significant role in Coach Gasso and the Sooners success. Gasso has a strong background in intercollegiate athletics and sports management, as well as 14 years of coaching experience at the NCAA Division 1, community college and high school levels. Gasso currently serves as the owner/operator of Intencity Sports Training Academy in Norman, Oklahoma. In addition to his full time role, Gasso has volunteered for the last seven years for the department of corrections prison ministries in the state of Oklahoma. Both Jim and Patty Gasso are members of Summit Church in Norman, Oklahoma.
“The stress of winning took over my life and it was a very miserable and lonely place. I was ready to walk away from the game. Thankfully, the Lord spoke to me. Listening to his word, my mindset changed. I began to understand my journey in coaching is to win souls not games. Trying to open up some hearts and let God take over. The cool thing is when I focused on doing his work, more success came our way! God is good and he is faithful. It doesn’t mean I avoided hard times. It means “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” and find joy everyday.”
Soli Deo Gloria!
Leah O’Brien-Amico
3-Time Olympic Gold Medalist with USA Softball
Leah O’Brien-Amico is a wife, mother and a true champion. Leah played a huge part on 3 Olympic Gold medal teams to compete for the USA in 1996, 2000 and 2004. Amico is also a 3-Time National Champion at the University of Arizona, a 3-Time First Team NCAA All-American and still holds the record for highest batting average at the Women’s College World Series (1994; .750; 9-12). Currently, Amico is a College Softball Analyst for ESPN, a keynote speaker and travels the country to host softball clinics all over the country. Leah is married to Tommy Amico & mom of 3 sons.
Jennie Finch
2-Time Olympic Medalist with USA Softball
Jennie is originally from La Mirada, CA. She grew up a Dodger fan, has two older brothers who had a huge impact on her life and they were part of the reason she started playing softball at 5 years old. Finch went on to attend the University of Arizona. She was a member of the 2001 University of Arizona National Championship team, MVP of the Womens College World Series, a 3 time All-American, 2 Time NCAA Honda Player of the Year award winner, 2 time World Championship Gold Medalist, member of the National Pro Fastpitch team Chicago Bandits, Co-Pitcher of the year in 2005, 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist & 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist. A wife and mother to three children, Ace, Diesel, and Paisley. They now reside in Southwest Louisiana.
Johnny Ragin III
Johnny Ragin III is a former Oregon Ducks starting linebacker and team captain, Pac-12 Champion, Rose Bowl Champion, and current NFL free-agent. Johnny has spent time in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans, and in the Alliance of American Football with the Salt Lake City Stallions.
Born in Miami, FL and raised in Wilsonville, OR, Johnny came to faith in Christ alone for his salvation in 2018. Passionate about sharing good news of the gospel; that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose from the dead on the third day, Johnny looks forward to any opportunity to speak about his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Jake Reed
I grew up in San Diego California playing baseball, football and basketball for Helix High School. Played baseball at the University of Oregon from 2012-2014. After my junior season at Oregon, I was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 5th round of the MLB draft and have been working my way through the system since. While in college, I met my wife Janie, who was a softball player at Oregon. We got married in November of 2017 and Janie is currently playing softball for team USA.
Fred Corral
Mizzou Baseball head coach Steve Bieser added veteran coach Fred Corral to his coaching staff in August 2017. One of the nation’s most experienced and sought-after pitching coaches, Corral brings with him nearly a quarter century of coaching experience after a successful career in both college and professional baseball. Corral brings a ‘no-limits’ approach to coaching with a tireless work ethic, and stood out to Coach Bieser due to his incredible ability to develop young men, both on and off the baseball diamond.
This past 2019 campaign, Corral guided one of the NCAA and SEC’s premier pitching staffs. The Tigers’ collective 3.24 ERA ranked fifth in the NCAA, while their 7.35 hits allowed per 9 IP ranked eighth. Additionally, Mizzou’s 9.90 strikeouts per 9 IP ranked 15th in the country and 1.28 WHIP placed 24th. For the third consecutive year, the Tigers’ pitching staff reset the program’s single-season record in strikeouts, punching out 559 total batters.
Corral mentored one of the nation’s elite pitchers in 2019, as LHP TJ Sikkema’s 1.32 ERA paced the SEC and ranked third in the NCAA. Additionally, the Tiger southpaw’s 5.48 hits allowed per 9 IP ranked eighth in the country and 0.96 WHIP ranked 22nd. The Dewitt, Iowa, native was later drafted in the first round of the 2019 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees, becoming Mizzou’s ninth all-time first round selection. Sikkema became the first Tiger hurler to be selected in the first round since RHP Tanner Houck did so in 2017.
In his first season in black and gold, the 2018 Mizzou staff ranked top 5 in the SEC with six shutouts (first), 2.84 K/BB (second), 3/31 BB/9 IP (third), 3.75 ERA (fourth), 9.4 K/9 IP (fourth) and 1.29 WHIP (fourth). It marked just the Tigers' seventh sub-3.75 team ERA since 1980. Following the season, five Tiger hurlers were selected in the 2018 MLB First-Year Player Draft, led by LHP Michael Plassmeyer (Seattle) in the fourth round (No. 118 overall). Plassmeyer was the third-highest drafty lefty in program history.
With 27 years of coaching experience across all levels of baseball, 11 of those years have come in the Southeastern Conference with three coming in professional baseball. He spent five seasons at fellow SEC East foe Georgia, coaching 12 pitchers to MLB Draft selections, including 2016 first-round pick Robert Tyler (38th overall to Colorado). He coached Tyler to a 2.68 ERA as a freshman in 2014, the lowest ERA by a UGA pitcher in 10 years. The highlight of his coaching tenure at Georgia came in 2016 when the Bulldogs staff limited batters to a .241 average, resetting the program record.
Corral is no stranger to professional baseball either, having served as a pitching instructor in both the Los Angeles Dodgers (2000-01) and Montreal Expos (1999) organizations.
As a player, Corral was a first-team All-Pac-10 selection as a LHP at Cal in 1987. The Golden Bears’ eighth 10-game winner, Corral set a school record for single-season win-loss percentage with a perfect 10-0 record as a junior in 1987. The southpaw added five saves and a 3.75 ERA in en-route to earning the team’s Most Valuable Pitcher honor. Corral helped lead Cal to its fourth College World Series appearance in 1988. He finished his two-year Golden Bears career with a 13-5 mark, 4.50 ERA and six saves. Corral starred at San Joaquin Delta Junior College where he garnered All-Camino Notre Conference honors in 1985 and 1986 before transferring to Cal.
Corral is married to the former Cynthia Drost, of Ripon, California, and they have three children, Kaitlyn Joy (18), Justin Jerome (14) and Jordan Patrick (7). Also, they raised two nieces, Marisa (28) and Chelsea (25), and two nephews, Michael (30) and Robert (24).