SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist softball head coach
Sam Maples has resigned from her position, Director of Athletics Robert Davenport announced Wednesday.
"I'd like to personally thank Coach Maples for her hard work and dedication these past six years," Davenport said. "She has taken the softball program to new heights, and it has been an honor watching her develop and create relationships with our student-athletes. Bison softball is in a great place because of her leadership, and we wish Sam and her family the best in their future endeavors."
Since being appointed head coach on May 18, 2018, Maples has transformed OBU softball into one of the premiere programs in Division II. She compiled a 170-117 record, the second-most wins in the program's 48-year history while leading the Bison to back-to-back Great American Conference Regular Season Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances.
Maples' tenure featured five straight winning seasons and a conference record of 114-74, including a 58-8 mark in the last two years. Furthermore, she spearheaded OBU's national ascent, which saw two victories in the NCAA Tournament.
In 2024, Maples steered Oklahoma Baptist to its second-consecutive 40-win season, a feat only accomplished once before in program history. For her efforts, she was named the GAC Coach of the Year for the second straight year, a first achievement in OBU's NCAA era.
"I am grateful for the opportunity I have had to coach the truly incredible women of OBU softball," Maples said. "It takes a tremendous amount of time, energy, and sacrifice to be excellent in college athletics, and I'm proud of what we've built together over the past six years. However, it is time for me to step back and focus more on my family."
Maples' squads produced school records for consecutive wins (17) and conference wins in a season (30 - DII era) while tallying seven top-25 victories. The Bison entered the nation's top-25 in back-to-back seasons, reaching as high as No. 18 in 2023.
Maples racked up five All-America, 11 All-Region, and 21 All-Conference selections. Additionally, OBU nearly swept the GAC's end-of-the-year awards twice, as the conference Player, Pitcher, and Freshman of the Year nods landed in Shawnee over the past two years.
Maples' profound direction as the pitching coach resulted in unprecedented numbers, including nearly 2,000 strikeouts and seven no-hitters. In 2022, her staff led the nation in punchouts (469), while in 2023, they registered a program low (DII era) in earned run average (1.50) to go along with the second most strikeouts in America (468).
"This is not a decision that has come easily," Maples said. "I will miss this group immensely as I navigate this next chapter and lean into what God has planned for my family."
