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Morgan Zerkle is hitting tanks and taking notes.
Simultaneously driving in runs for Patty Gasso and Team USA while also absorbing Gasso’s methods. To be a better player, sure, but also to be a better head coach.
That’s the balance for Zerkle, the head softball coach at Marshalland an aspiring Olympian. Not a player-coach, but a player who coaches and a coach who plays.
Zerkle has been one of the hottest hitters through the first two days of the International Cup in Oklahoma City. She’s 5 for 8 with seven RBIs and two home runs. Zerkle hit a walk-off triple Friday night as the U.S. Women’s Elite Team run-ruled American Samoa 10-3.
If her Marshall players haven’t been watching, they’re missing out on seeing their skipper mash.
“I sometimes give them a heads up, ‘Hey, there’s a game on today,’” Zerkle said. “I think they’re really bought into me being here and supporting me, so that’s super nice to have.”
More: USA Softball 'really connected' at International Cup even with short turnaround
There are several players on the two U.S. rosters at the International Cup who are college assistant coaches — Kayla Kowalik (Texas Tech), Aubrey Leach (Tennessee), Bubba Nickles-Camarena (San Diego State) and former Sooner Keilani Ricketts (Pacific) among them — but Zerkle is the only player who leads a program of her own.
Gasso called Zerkle a “training freak,” which helps explain how a coach can stay in playing shape.
Zerkle has to have tunnel vision for whatever she’s doing at that moment, whether it’s coaching Marshall, playing for the AUSL’s Chicago Bandits or repping the red, white and blue.
“And right here I’m with (Team) USA and that’s where my focus is,” Zerkle said. “But that doesn’t mean in the morning I don’t do some work sometimes on my computer for the Herd. Really they both go hand in hand. Coaching makes you a smarter player, and being here surrounded by these great players makes me a better coach. I’m really lucky to have that combo.”
Zerkle has gone 94-70 in three seasons coaching the Thundering Herd. She just led Marshall, her alma mater, to the NCAA Tournament for only the third time in program history.
“I think I’m definitely more nervous coaching,” Zerkle said of her dual softball lives. “It’s really out of your control when you’re in the third-base coaching box…”
Zerkle, 30, is one of the oldest players in the Team USA player pool. She’s coached against some of her current teammates, including former Stanford and Texas Tech ace NiJaree Canady.
More: Who will make Team USA softball for 2028 Olympics in OKC? We make our predictions
Canady pitched against Zerkle’s Thundering Herd two seasons ago.
“It’s incredible,” Canady said of Zerkle. ”That’s the good thing about being on this team, you’re able to learn from some of the best players to do this. I’m just trying to soak up everything.”
Zerkle is soaking up different aspects of the Team USA experience. She’s a young coach who, as a player, is getting an inside look at how a legendary coach like Gasso operates.
“I’m even taking notes sometimes like, ‘Man, I should tell this to my team. That would be really great for them,’” Zerkle said.
Coaching a fellow coach could be tricky, but Zerkle makes it easy for Gasso.
“She walks up to me like, ‘Yes, Coach. Yes, Coach,’” Gasso said. “I’m like, ‘Thank you, Coach. Thank you, Coach.’”
But that’s Zerkle the player Gasso is talking to. And despite her unique position, Zerkle is just like the rest of her teammates in that she’s competing for a spot on Team USA two summers from now.
“Every player here has something that they’re playing for, and that is to find a spot in the end,” Gasso said. “There are people that are really putting it out there and saying, ‘You can’t let me go’ or ‘you’ve gotta see me,’ and Zerkle is one of those right now.”
More: Get to know OSU, OU softball legends on Team USA rosters for 2026 International Cup
Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at [email protected]. Support Joe's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: How Morgan Zerkle handles life as Marshall coach, aspiring Olympian as USA Softball player
Continue reading...
Simultaneously driving in runs for Patty Gasso and Team USA while also absorbing Gasso’s methods. To be a better player, sure, but also to be a better head coach.
That’s the balance for Zerkle, the head softball coach at Marshalland an aspiring Olympian. Not a player-coach, but a player who coaches and a coach who plays.
Zerkle has been one of the hottest hitters through the first two days of the International Cup in Oklahoma City. She’s 5 for 8 with seven RBIs and two home runs. Zerkle hit a walk-off triple Friday night as the U.S. Women’s Elite Team run-ruled American Samoa 10-3.
If her Marshall players haven’t been watching, they’re missing out on seeing their skipper mash.
“I sometimes give them a heads up, ‘Hey, there’s a game on today,’” Zerkle said. “I think they’re really bought into me being here and supporting me, so that’s super nice to have.”
More: USA Softball 'really connected' at International Cup even with short turnaround
There are several players on the two U.S. rosters at the International Cup who are college assistant coaches — Kayla Kowalik (Texas Tech), Aubrey Leach (Tennessee), Bubba Nickles-Camarena (San Diego State) and former Sooner Keilani Ricketts (Pacific) among them — but Zerkle is the only player who leads a program of her own.
Gasso called Zerkle a “training freak,” which helps explain how a coach can stay in playing shape.
Zerkle has to have tunnel vision for whatever she’s doing at that moment, whether it’s coaching Marshall, playing for the AUSL’s Chicago Bandits or repping the red, white and blue.
“And right here I’m with (Team) USA and that’s where my focus is,” Zerkle said. “But that doesn’t mean in the morning I don’t do some work sometimes on my computer for the Herd. Really they both go hand in hand. Coaching makes you a smarter player, and being here surrounded by these great players makes me a better coach. I’m really lucky to have that combo.”
Zerkle has gone 94-70 in three seasons coaching the Thundering Herd. She just led Marshall, her alma mater, to the NCAA Tournament for only the third time in program history.
“I think I’m definitely more nervous coaching,” Zerkle said of her dual softball lives. “It’s really out of your control when you’re in the third-base coaching box…”
Zerkle, 30, is one of the oldest players in the Team USA player pool. She’s coached against some of her current teammates, including former Stanford and Texas Tech ace NiJaree Canady.
More: Who will make Team USA softball for 2028 Olympics in OKC? We make our predictions
Canady pitched against Zerkle’s Thundering Herd two seasons ago.
“It’s incredible,” Canady said of Zerkle. ”That’s the good thing about being on this team, you’re able to learn from some of the best players to do this. I’m just trying to soak up everything.”
Zerkle is soaking up different aspects of the Team USA experience. She’s a young coach who, as a player, is getting an inside look at how a legendary coach like Gasso operates.
“I’m even taking notes sometimes like, ‘Man, I should tell this to my team. That would be really great for them,’” Zerkle said.
Coaching a fellow coach could be tricky, but Zerkle makes it easy for Gasso.
“She walks up to me like, ‘Yes, Coach. Yes, Coach,’” Gasso said. “I’m like, ‘Thank you, Coach. Thank you, Coach.’”
But that’s Zerkle the player Gasso is talking to. And despite her unique position, Zerkle is just like the rest of her teammates in that she’s competing for a spot on Team USA two summers from now.
“Every player here has something that they’re playing for, and that is to find a spot in the end,” Gasso said. “There are people that are really putting it out there and saying, ‘You can’t let me go’ or ‘you’ve gotta see me,’ and Zerkle is one of those right now.”
More: Get to know OSU, OU softball legends on Team USA rosters for 2026 International Cup
Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at [email protected]. Support Joe's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: How Morgan Zerkle handles life as Marshall coach, aspiring Olympian as USA Softball player
Continue reading...
