EDMOND, Okla. - Men's golf head coach David Lynn, women's soccer head coach Evan Dresel, softball head coach Shalee Rodriguez, men's and women's bowling head coach James Hayes, women's volleyball head coach Asa Freeman, men's and women's swimming head coach Josh Davis and men's and women's cross country and men's and women's track and field head coach Wade Miller (not pictured) were named as the recipients for the 2025 Mitchell Excellence in Coaching Award.

The Mitchell Excellence in Coaching Award, named after boosters Dennis and Phyllis Mitchell, is given annually to a coach who has received a coach-of-the-year honor at the conference or regional level, guided a team into the NCAA Division II postseason, coached an All-America selection or won a conference title.

"It is such an incredible honor to celebrate our coaches with the Mitchell Excellence in Coaching award," Athletics Director David Lynn said. "Dennis and Phyllis are so supportive of our programs at OC. This award combines the passion they have for OC Athletics and their generosity to make a difference in our coaches' lives. I am so grateful for the Mitchells and everything they do for OC. It is an honor to be able to recognize our coaches and their efforts and successes."

Lynn produced the men's golf's program's first pair of PING GCAA First Team All-Americans in the same season in the NCAA era with junior Leandro Mihaich and senior Oskari Nikku while Exequiel Rodriguez defended his crown as the LSC Men's Golf Academic Player of the Year. Additionally, OC reached the National Quarterfinals for the fourth consecutive year.

Dresel led his 2024 squad to the program's first 10-win season in the NCAA DII era, qualifying for its first ever seven-team LSC Tournament. During the season, the Eagles recorded their first-ever wins over West Texas A&M and Lubbock Christian. Leading the charge on the field was Kyla Lovelace who, under Dresel's tutelage, was named the LSC Forward of the Year and was a First Team All-South Central Region honoree.

For the second straight season, OC softball reached the South Central Region Finals after coach Rodriguez produced the program's eighth straight 30-win season - the longest such streak among any LSC teams during the NCAA DII era. Softball's 38 wins in 2025 is tied for its second-most wins of this decade.

Coach Hayes, in his women's inaugural year in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, produced a Runner-Up team result in the GLVC Tournament. Hayes' men made history with its first Sectional Title, followed by a program-best 13th finish nationally. Connor Fleming finished sixth in the Intercollegiate Singles Championships for the second best individual finish in program history. 

Second-year head coach Freeman produced volleyball's first 20-win season of the NCAA era and while also reaching the LSC Tournament as the No. 7 seed. Under Freeman, outside hitter Chloe Jones was named the league's Co-Freshman of the Year - the first such honor for the program in league history.

Head men's and women's swimming coach Davis led sophomore Tammy Greenwood to the best female single season in program history. Greenwood became the program's inaugural two-time First Team All-American with a pair of top-eight national finishes in the 200-yard freestyle and 200 backstroke, including a national Runner-Up finish in the 200 back.

Rounding out the coaching honorees was Miller, who started the year producing the LSC Women's Cross Country Freshman of the Year in Kinley Kite. During the track and field season, Miller led true freshman Laniyah Curry to Nationals appearances in both indoor and outdoor seasons while coaching three All-Region selections.

Between the seven coaches, there were 40 All-Conference honorees, including four "of the year" recipients, nine All-Region performers and six All-Americans.