TEMPE – Following a two-year absence from coaching collegiate softball, John Bargfeldt returns to Division I softball as Sun Devil Softball’s pitching coach for the 2026 season, Arizona State head coach Megan Bartlett announced on Thursday afternoon.
Bargfeldt, who most recently helped USA Softball to a Gold Medal finish at the 2025 World Games as a staff member, stepped away from the game in June 2023 following a five-year (2019-23) stint as an assistant coach at Oklahoma State. Prior to his time in Stillwater, Okla., Bargfeldt spent 14 seasons (2006-2019) as the head coach of the Tulsa Golden Hurricane softball program.
“I am beyond thrilled to welcome John to the Sun Devil family,” Bartlett said. “John is one of the most premier pitching coaches in the sport of softball. He has extensive (Women’s College World Series) and international experience with Team USA. He is a good man and a proven winner. We’re looking forward to a groundbreaking season of Sun Devil Softball!”
“I’m excited to be able to help out the ASU softball program,” Bargfeldt said. “The ASU coaches, student-athletes and staff have welcomed us into their families with open arms! Coach Bartlett and I quickly experienced a connection over the phone, and she convinced me I would thoroughly enjoy being a part of this program. I’m excited to get to work and help the pitchers reach their potential.”
While in Stillwater, Okla., Bargfeldt assisted the Cowgirls to three consecutive WCWS appearances from 2021-23. Kelly Maxwell, Lexi Kilfoyl, Miranda Elish, Morgan Day, Carrie Eberle and Kyra Aycock were all student-athletes who learned under his tutelage at Oklahoma State. In 2022, Maxwell, Elish and Day became the first trio of Cowgirl pitchers to strike out 100 or more batters in a single season. Eberle, a two-time All-American, won 88 percent of her decisions.
During his time in Tulsa, Okla., the Golden Hurricanes finished in the top three in either the C-USA or American on 13 occasions. His squad won five C-USA regular season championships (2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014), four C-USA tournament championships (2006, 2009, 2012, 2014), three American tournament championships (2016-18) and one American regular season championship (2017). He was a three-time C-USA Coach of the Year honoree (2011, 2012, 2014) and picked up the honor in the American as well following the 2017 campaign.
By the end of his tenure leading Tulsa, Bargfeldt had a 535-270-1 (.664) overall record, a figure that includes a 210-91 (.698) conference record, too. He set the program record for most wins and the highest winning percentage for a head coach. He remains the only coach in program history with at least four winning seasons in Golden Hurricanes history. In fact, Tulsa never had a losing season under his guidance and made an NCAA Regional appearance 11 times.
Bargfeldt produced six All-Americans, 68 all-conference players, 37 first-team selections and 27 NFCA all-region players. In the classroom, the Golden Hurricanes had 20 C-USA Academic Medalists, 12 C-USA All-Academic Team members, four CSC Academic All-Americans and six Academic All-District student-athletes.
Prior to arriving in Tulsa, Bargfeldt was an assistant coach at Georgia Tech for the 2004 season, working primarily with the pitchers and catchers. He also served as the bench coach and threw batting practice during a season that saw the Yellow Jackets go 49-17 with an NCAA Regional appearance. By season’s end, Jessica Sallinger broke 15 school records and finished fourth nationally with a 0.97 earned run average en route to third-team All-American honors under his guidance.
As a member of the ASA’s Men’s Fastpitch national team in 1991, Bargfeldt helped his squad win a silver medal at the Pan American Games as the starting shortstop. Two years later, the team won a Gold Medal at the U.S. Sports Festival. By the time his playing days were over, he was a five-time ASA Men’s Fastpitch All-American.
Bargfeldt completed his bachelor’s degree in 1981 at Anderson (Ind.) University, where he also served as an assistant baseball coach over a three-year span (1980-82). He was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 31st round of the 1977 MLB Amateur Draft following a three-year collegiate baseball career at Anderson (1975-77).
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