The Oklahoma Sooners are set to begin their 2026 campaign in Arizona this week, facing Arizona State Thursday night before a three-game series against Arizona over the weekend. As Oklahoma prepares for the season, they’ll do so without long-time associate head coach and pitching coach Jennifer Rocha.
The University of Oklahoma announced on Thursday that Rocha is dealing with a health issue and will be away from the team for an undetermined time. Rocha is widely considered one of the best pitching coaches in the nation, helping the Sooners win at a historic rate.
In Rocha’s absence, Oklahoma hired former pitcher Karlie Keeney. Keeney spent the 2024 season with the Sooners after transferring from Liberty, and spent 2025 working with Rocha and the Sooners pitchers.
The Sooners take on Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz. at 7:15 p.m. CT and the game can be seen on ESPN+.
Patty Gasso announces staff update
Statement from Oklahoma Athletics
University of Oklahoma head softball coach Patty Gasso announced Thursday that associate head coach Jennifer Rocha did not travel with the Sooners for this week’s season-opening games in Arizona due to a health matter. Rocha, who is OU’s pitching coach, will be away from the team for an undetermined period.
Gasso also announced OU has hired Karlie Keeney as an interim coach. Keeney, a former pitcher who played on Oklahoma’s 2024 national championship squad and served as the program’s student assistant pitching coach last season, will help coach OU’s pitchers during Rocha’s absence. Keeney worked directly with Rocha and the pitching staff during a 2025 campaign that saw the Sooners win the Southeastern Conference and advance to the Women’s College World Series.
Keeney posted a 6-1 record with a 1.82 ERA in 61.2 innings in her lone season playing with the Sooners. The Providence, Ky., native was a four-year letterwinner at Liberty and a three-time All-Atlantic Sun selection before transferring to OU.
The No. 3-ranked Sooners start their season Thursday at Arizona State at 7:15 p.m. CT before playing a three-game weekend series at Arizona starting Friday at 5 p.m. All four games will stream on ESPN+.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma pitching coach Jennifer Rocha away from team indefinitely