logo
Who is Tiare Jennings? Former OU softball star back in WCWS as Sooners' coach

Who is Tiare Jennings? Former OU softball star back in WCWS as Sooners' coach

USA Today29-05-2025

Who is Tiare Jennings? Former OU softball star back in WCWS as Sooners' coach
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Texas Tech's NiJaree Canady and Tennessee's Karlyn Pickens lead WCWS players to watch
The Oklahoman's Jenni Carlson highlights several Women's College World Series key players to watch.
Tiare Jennings is back at the Women's College World Series for the fifth consecutive season, but just not in the capacity Oklahoma (and college softball) fans have seen her in before.
This time around, one of the greatest to ever put on the Sooners uniform is doing so as a member of Patty Gasso's coaching staff.
One of the best power hitters and players in college softball history, Jennings is in her first season as a graduate assistant on the Sooners' staff, where she has taken a prominent role as OU's first base coach.
REQUIRED READING: How does WCWS work? Explaining double-elimination format for NCAA softball tournament
In her new role, the first-year graduate assistant coach now looks to help lead her alma mater to continue its dominance at the WCWS by winning a fifth straight national championship, a feat that has not been met in college softball history before.
That run to another trophy hoisting that is followed by the playing of Toby Keith's "How Do You Like Me Now?!" begins on Thursday, May 29 at 1:30 p.m. ET against No. 7 Tennessee at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.
Here's what you need to know about Jennings ahead of her WCWS coaching debut:
Who is Tiare Jennings?
Tiare Jennings is one of the all-time Oklahoma Sooner softball players, and the No. 3 OU player of all-time on The Oklahoman's recent top 50 list.
The San Pedro, California native reached levels not many softball players have in their collegiate careers: a four-time national champion and four-time All-American First Team selection. She was also named to the WCWS All-Tournament Team three of her four years in Norman.
It didn't take long for Jennings to make her mark on the OU program, as she started all 60 games as a freshman while posting a .462 batting average on the season, which ranked seventh best among all Division I hitters that year. She ranked second in the country with 27 home runs, which was three shy of the NCAA freshman record, and a 1.000 slugging percentage.
Statistically speaking, Jennings ranks first in program history with 64 career doubles, second with 98 homers and 314 RBIs, and third with a .412 batting average. She holds the WCWS career record for most RBIs (29) at the WCWS, while setting a single-season WCWS record for RBIs (15) and home runs (5) at the 2022 WCWS.
"I know our journey together is far from over. With God, none of this is possible and I'm so thankful that he gave me the talents to play the game that I love," Jennings wrote in a letter to softball at the 2024 WCWS. "... From all the ups and downs, the best thing that I learned playing is that the sport doesn't defy me. It is something that I love to do with my sisters next to me.
"Softball is giving me the opportunity to represent who I am."
Following her graduation from OU last spring, Jennings played with the OKC Spark and was on Team USA at the 2024 WBSC World Cup, where she helped guide the United States to a silver medal.
Tiare Jennings coaching at Oklahoma
This past season, Jennings has taken on a new role with the Sooners' softball program: coach.
"It's cool to still be on the field and coaching," Jennings told The Oklahoman on May 4. "OU has a lot of new faces, and it's been cool to get to know them and teach them the championship mindset and what OU softball stands for."
She added: "It was always one of my dreams to stay around the team with OU and play softball."
In her graduate assistant coaching role with the Sooners, Jennings has served as the team's first base coach. She's also putting together scouting reports for OU this season in her new role.
"I didn't know what I was doing," Jennings told The Oklahoman about coaching first base at the beginning. "I was just a little bit rattled. Like, 'OK, do I send them two? Do I not? Did I miss any signs?' I'm starting to get the hang of it, have my feet on the ground and enjoy the moment. It's been super fun to do it. I wasn't a base stealer, so I didn't get many signs at first base. Now I'm in the brunt of it, where I pay attention to everything."
REQUIRED READING: How former OU softball star Tiare Jennings has passed knowledge as Sooners' student coach
Tiare Jennings stats at Oklahoma
In her illustrious four-year career at Oklahoma, Jennings finished with a career .412 batting average and slash line of .412/.885/.491. She finished with 98 home runs and 314 hits and RBIs each.
Here's a year-by-year breakdown of Jennings' stats at Oklahoma:
2021: .462 batting average/1.000 slugging percentage/.517 on-base percentage with 92 RBIs, 91 hits, 81 runs scored and 52 extra-base hits (27 home runs)
.462 batting average/1.000 slugging percentage/.517 on-base percentage with 92 RBIs, 91 hits, 81 runs scored and 52 extra-base hits (27 home runs) 2022: .401/.934/.507 with 87 RBIs, 83 runs scored, 73 hits and 38 extra-base hits (29 home runs)
.401/.934/.507 with 87 RBIs, 83 runs scored, 73 hits and 38 extra-base hits (29 home runs) 2023: .415/.781/.477 with 66 RBIs, 76 hits, 57 runs scored and 33 extra-base hits (17 home runs)
.415/.781/.477 with 66 RBIs, 76 hits, 57 runs scored and 33 extra-base hits (17 home runs) 2024: .370/.820/.463 with 74 hits, 69 RBIs, 56 runs scored and 40 extra-base hits (25 home runs)
Tiare Jennings Athletes Unlimited Softball team
Jennings' playing career is set to resume this summer with the Volts in the new Athletes Unlimited Softball League. She was drafted by the Volts in the fifth round of the inaugural Athletes Unlimited Softball League draft back in January.
With the Volts, Jennings will get to play with Sooners' ace Sam Landry, who was taken No. 1 overall in the AUSL college draft earlier this month.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Former Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears among 13 invited to NBA Draft, per report
Former Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears among 13 invited to NBA Draft, per report

USA Today

time7 hours ago

  • USA Today

Former Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears among 13 invited to NBA Draft, per report

Former Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears among 13 invited to NBA Draft, per report Former Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears received an invitation to attend the NBA Draft in person on Tuesday, according to a report from ESPN. Fears was among 13 of the most highly projected picks who received the invitation to the draft green room. The green room is an area in front of the dais where players can sit with their family and friends while waiting to hear their name called. Projected No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, formerly of Duke, headlined the list. Other invited players include Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey from Rutgers, VJ Edgecombe from Baylor, and former Texas guard Tre Johnson, among others. In the latest mock draft from USA TODAY Sports, those are the only five players projected to be selected in front of Fears, who is slotted to go in pick No. 6 to the Washington Wizards. The league is expected to send 11 more invitations at a later date, according to the report. Fears, who jumped a classification in order to play college basketball when his age would have dictated he be a senior in high school, spent just one year at Oklahoma. It was an awfully good year as the 18-year-old averaged 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists to lead the Sooners to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in six years. The last Oklahoma basketball player taken in the NBA Draft was Norman native Trae Young. Young was selected with the No. 5 pick in 2018 by the Dallas Mavericks, who traded him almost immediately to the Atlanta Hawks for the rights to Luka Doncic. Fears would become the fifth former Sooners basketball player to be taken in the first round if he is selected. He would join Young, Buddy Hield (2016), Blake Griffin (2009) and Ryan Humphrey (2002). Griffin was selected No. 1 overall by the Los Angeles Clippers. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.

SEC Blue Blood Accused of Tampering With SMU QB Kevin Jennings
SEC Blue Blood Accused of Tampering With SMU QB Kevin Jennings

Yahoo

time18 hours ago

  • Yahoo

SEC Blue Blood Accused of Tampering With SMU QB Kevin Jennings

SEC Blue Blood Accused of Tampering With SMU QB Kevin Jennings originally appeared on Athlon Sports. In a college football world where player loyalty is under constant siege, the latest bombshell out of Dallas is hitting Mustang fans where it hurts. Advertisement According to On3's Billy Embody, the Alabama Crimson Tide, yes, that Alabama, allegedly tried to lure SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings into the transfer portal this offseason. The move, if true, would represent a stunning case of potential tampering by a national powerhouse targeting one of college football's most electric young quarterbacks. The speculation caught fire after Jennings' name was notably absent from the Manning Passing Academy list, despite his breakout 2024 season. Alabama's Ty Simpson wasincluded, a curious detail that Embody called out on social media. 'Alabama tried to recruit Kevin Jennings into the transfer portal to take over for Milroe, but sure, Ty Simpson deserves a notable mention over Kevin Jennings,' Embody wrote. Jennings, the 6-foot dual-threat phenom from Dallas, is coming off a jaw-dropping campaign in which he threw for 3,245 yards and 23 touchdowns while rushing for another 354 yards and five scores. More importantly, he led the Mustangs to an 11-3 record, an ACC Championship appearance, and their first-ever College Football Playoff berth. His return was expected to catapult SMU into the national conversation once again in 2025. Southern Methodist Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings (7) throws the ball during the first half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Carchietta-Imagn Images Instead, fans are left wondering: Did Alabama try to take that future away? Advertisement While Jennings reaffirmed his commitment to SMU just days before their playoff loss to Penn State, questions now loom about how widespread these types of backdoor recruitment efforts truly are. Jennings has not directly commented on the report, but his actions speak volumes. Still, in today's Wild West of NIL deals and unchecked transfer portal manipulation, such stories are becoming all too common. Power programs like Alabama, equipped with deep-pocketed boosters and national brands can, and often do, turn Group of Five stars into targets. This isn't the first time Alabama has faced such accusations either. Just last year, the Tide were reportedly linked to Miami (OH) kicker Graham Nicholson before those whispers faded from the headlines. If these allegations hold water, the NCAA may soon find itself under renewed pressure to implement stricter tampering rules, though enforcement remains a pipe dream to many. Advertisement For SMU fans, the message is clear: Kevin Jennings stayed true. But the vultures are circling, and college football's transfer culture shows no signs of slowing down. Related: ESPN analyst has words for SMU Football's playoff credibility Related: SMU Football Makes Underrated Hire After Playoff Season This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 8, 2025, where it first appeared.

Texas WCWS final win sets ESPN record with most-watched College softball game ever
Texas WCWS final win sets ESPN record with most-watched College softball game ever

USA Today

time18 hours ago

  • USA Today

Texas WCWS final win sets ESPN record with most-watched College softball game ever

Texas WCWS final win sets ESPN record with most-watched College softball game ever ESPN reported that the decisive Game 3 of the championship series averaged 2.4 million viewers and peaked at 2.7 million, making it the most-watched NCAA softball game ever. The Texas Longhorns made history at the 2025 Women's College World Series, capturing their first-ever national championship and setting new television viewership records across all three games of the finals. ESPN reported that the decisive Game 3 of the championship series averaged 2.4 million viewers and peaked at 2.7 million, making it the most-watched NCAA softball game ever. Games 1 and 2 also broke records, each averaging 2.1 million viewers—the highest ever for the opening two games of a WCWS final. Game 1 peaked at 2.8 million viewers, while Game 2 reached a peak of 2.6 million. The all-Texas matchup between the Longhorns and Texas Tech Red Raiders marked the first time since 2004 that both championship participants hailed from the same state, reviving the storied rivalry from their Big 12 days. The series spotlighted a marquee pitching showdown between Texas ace Teagan Kavan and Texas Tech's NiJaree Canady. Kavan, who entered the finals with a perfect 3-0 record against Canady, extended her dominance to 5-0 after two more victories in the championship series. Fans were treated to a dramatic three-game set. Game 1 delivered a classic pitchers' duel, featuring a controversial obstruction call and a bizarre game-winning hit for Texas in the sixth inning. The Red Raiders bounced back in Game 2, capitalizing on Texas errors to force a decisive Game 3. In the winner-take-all finale, the Longhorns erupted for five runs in the first inning, forcing Canady out of the game. A grand slam sealed Texas' commanding victory and their first national title in program history.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store