Oklahoma State University Athletics
Shippy Returns to Join Cowgirl Softball Staff
August 17, 2020 | Cowgirl Softball
STILLWATER – One of Oklahoma State softball's all-time greats is returning to the program, as Vanessa Shippy has joined the staff as a volunteer assistant coach, it was announced today.
A three-time All-American during her playing days, Shippy was also a three-time Academic All-American. She was twice honored as Big 12 Player of the Year and in 2018, was a top-10 finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year.
"We can't say enough good things about Vanessa. When the opportunity presented itself to bring her back to Stillwater, we jumped at the chance," coach Kenny Gajewski said. "She'll be a great influence on our program and we're fortunate to have her back home with us."
Shippy finished her Cowgirl career with a .404/.532/.585 slash line and ranks among the top two in school history in all three categories.
After graduating, she was drafted into the National Pro Fastpitch league and played a season before taking a job at Syracuse, where she served as an assistant coach for the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
Shippy returns to Stillwater to join an Oklahoma State program that appeared in the Women's College World Series in 2019 and was making a run at it again in 2020. At the time the season shut down due to the COVID pandemic, the Cowgirls were 19-5 and ranked No. 16 in the nation.
"The energy around Stillwater is something anyone would want to be part of," Shippy said. "The opportunity to come back here and join this staff means so much to me. I want to add as much value as possible to this program because I care so deeply about it."
A three-time All-American during her playing days, Shippy was also a three-time Academic All-American. She was twice honored as Big 12 Player of the Year and in 2018, was a top-10 finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year.
"We can't say enough good things about Vanessa. When the opportunity presented itself to bring her back to Stillwater, we jumped at the chance," coach Kenny Gajewski said. "She'll be a great influence on our program and we're fortunate to have her back home with us."
Shippy finished her Cowgirl career with a .404/.532/.585 slash line and ranks among the top two in school history in all three categories.
After graduating, she was drafted into the National Pro Fastpitch league and played a season before taking a job at Syracuse, where she served as an assistant coach for the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
Shippy returns to Stillwater to join an Oklahoma State program that appeared in the Women's College World Series in 2019 and was making a run at it again in 2020. At the time the season shut down due to the COVID pandemic, the Cowgirls were 19-5 and ranked No. 16 in the nation.
"The energy around Stillwater is something anyone would want to be part of," Shippy said. "The opportunity to come back here and join this staff means so much to me. I want to add as much value as possible to this program because I care so deeply about it."
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