In his 31 years as the head baseball coach at Oklahoma City University, coach Denney Crabaugh's teams have made 14 trips to the NAIA World Series and posted a 1,499-460-2 record, good for a .764 winning percentage.
The Stars recorded four consecutive appearances in the NAIA National Championship game from 2002 through '05, culminating with a national championship victory in 2005. Prior to the 2005 national championship, Crabaugh guided the 2004 Stars to an NAIA-record 73 wins.
Oklahoma City has won 10 conference titles, nine conference tournament championships and reeled off at least 50 wins in 14 seasons under Crabaugh's leadership. Crabaugh’s teams have compiled more victories (1,433) than any college baseball program since 1991. Off the field, Oklahoma City has been an NAIA scholar baseball team four times.
Crabaugh joined the Oklahoma City staff as an assistant coach in 1987 and, since then, has coached 134 future professionals, 62 MLB draftees, 81 All-Americans, 61 NAIA scholar-athletes, seven NAIA National Players of the Year and four NAIA Hall of Famers. Crabaugh has had multiple former players reach the Major Leagues, including 2006 National League batting champion Freddy Sanchez.
Crabaugh came to Oklahoma City from Ada High School where he posted a 15-15 record as head coach. He also coached the Ada American Legion team to the AAA State Legion Championship. Before going to Ada, Crabaugh spent four years as an assistant at Ardmore High School. Crabaugh began his coaching career as graduate assistant and pitching coach at his alma mater, Southeastern Oklahoma State.
With his achievements, Crabaugh has been inducted into both the Oklahoma Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the NAIA Hall of Fame. He was the sixth coach to be named ABCA/Diamond NAIA Coach of the Year twice, earning the honor in both 2003 and 2005. He was also named Oklahoma Baseball Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 1992, 2002 and 2005.
Under Crabaugh's leadership, the Stars have become a staple in the NAIA Top 25 polls.
