Softball 6/18/2025 4:00:00 PM Chris Brannick

Sam Maples Named UCO Softball Head Coach

Central Oklahoma Fills Position For Just Fifth Time In 50 Years

EDMOND – Central Oklahoma Vice President for Athletics Stan Wagnon announced Wednesday Sam Maples as the new head softball coach.

Maples comes to UCO after a successful stint at Oklahoma Baptist, where she guided the team to the national tournament for the first time in its Division II history. Maples won 170 games in six seasons (a .594 win percentage), including the canceled 2020 season and shortened 2021 season.

"UCO's tradition-rich softball program is in great hands with Sam Maples as the next coach, and I'm thrilled to welcome Sam and her family to the UCO and Edmond communities," Wagnon said. "Sam has the background and expertise to sustain UCO's success on the softball diamond, but her passion and spirit have me excited to see the impact she'll have on current and future Bronchos, both on and off the field. Sam has both the tools and vision to lead the Bronchos to new heights."

"We are super excited to get started," Maples said. "I want to thank Stan and UCO for the opportunity to take the helm. We are eager to continue the culture of excellence that is UCO softball. We are looking forward to getting to know the student-athletes, the campus community and the Edmond community. It is such a great opportunity, a great program at a great school in a great conference. We are just ready to get going."

Maples led OBU from 2018 to 2024, when she stepped away from coaching to spend time with her family. She is joined in Edmond by her husband Taylor and daughters Wyatt (two) and Elliott (four months). Maples also served at her church in Norman during the past year.

Maples is originally from Sarasota, Florida and played collegiately at Florida Atlantic, where she wrapped up a four-year career in 2015. Maples, who earned All-Conference honors and still ranks in the top 10 for shutouts, appearances, and games started in FAU school history, received her bachelor's degree in health administration there in 2015. She led FAU in ERA in 2013 & 2014, compiling the team high for wins, appearances, shutouts, and saves in 2014. In 2015, Maples won an NCAA regional game against Florida A&M. She moved to Colorado to spend the next two seasons as a graduate assistant at Colorado Christian. She served as interim head coach at CCU in 2016 and remained there for the 2017 and 2018 seasons under the tutelage of Shanon Hays.

Maples was named head softball coach at Oklahoma Baptist in May 2018, leading the team onto the field for the first time in 2019. She went 17-39 in her debut season, but spent the next five years above .500, going 14-10 in 2020 before the shutdown and 21-20 in the pandemic-altered 2021 season. Back to playing a full schedule in 2022, Maples led OBU to a 33-22 record.

In 2023, Maples led the Bison to the best season in school history, winning a DII program record 44 games, winning the Great American Conference title, and making an appearance in the NCAA Division II Softball Championship for the first time in school history. Maples led OBU to a 41-14 record in 2024, with another GAC title and a second consecutive NCAA national tournament appearance.

Maples inherits a UCO program that has spent years among the nation's best and is an annual contender on the national stage. The Bronchos went 52-11 in 2025, winning the regular season and postseason MIAA titles. UCO hosted and won the NCAA Central Regional to earn a fifth trip to the NCAA Division II Softball Championship finals. The Bronchos went 1-2 there.

Central Oklahoma has won 1,432 games in 50 years of softball. The Bronchos have claim to eight conference championships, five regional championships, and 19 national tournament appearances.

An introductory meet & greet is being planned for July 8 on campus for faculty, staff, and supporters to meet the new coach. More details will be shared in the coming weeks.

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