Oklahoma Christian University’s Ultimate Frisbee team has quickly made a name for itself on the national stage. In just a few short years since its founding in 2019, the program has captured back-to-back Division III national championships, shaking up the landscape of collegiate Ultimate and solidifying itself as one of the most competitive programs in the country. Now, with a new season underway, the Eagles face a new chapter: running the program without an official coach and relying on student leadership to continue their winning tradition.
Graduate student Samuel Roberts has stepped into the role of Graduate Assistant, serving as the program’s main organizer and leader. While not technically a head coach, Roberts handles the responsibilities that keep the team running: communicating with the university, registering for tournaments, managing jerseys, and organizing logistics.
“Technically I’m a Graduate Assistant, but in the school’s eyes I’m effectively the coach,” Roberts explained. “It was a weird change at first of not having an official coach, but it allowed us to really make the team our own in a positive way.”
The transition might have rattled some people, but Oklahoma Christian’s Ultimate showed its resilience last season by qualifying for Nationals once again. For Roberts, the accomplishment spoke volumes about the team’s culture.
“Going from coach-led to student-led and still making Nationals shows how strong our team is,” Roberts said. “Our goal, like always, is to make Nationals and compete at a high level.”
The team’s drive for excellence has been a hallmark of the program since its inception. When Oklahoma Christian first introduced Ultimate Frisbee as a club sport, the university drew national attention by offering athletic scholarships, something rarely seen in the sport. This recruiting model helped the Eagles bring in top-tier talent, and results came quickly. In 2021, the team stormed through competition to capture its first Division III national championship, defeating powerhouse Middlebury in the title game. They repeated the feat the following season, cementing themselves as a dynasty-in-the-making.
Even as other programs raised eyebrows at Oklahoma Christian’s unconventional approach, the team leaned into its identity as both competitive and community-driven.
“We’re a really fun team with a great community that competes at a very high level,” Roberts said.
This season, the Eagles also have a major off-field development to celebrate: a brand-new home field. Thanks to the generosity of a local donor and support from the university, the program now has its own dedicated space for training and hosting games.
“Our new field is growing as we speak,” Roberts said. “It’s very exciting, and it feels like a big step forward for our program.”
While the men’s soccer team will occasionally use it as a backup, the field is designed primarily for use by the Ultimate team, a sign of the university’s continued investment in the program’s future.
The new facility, paired with a roster that blends returning veterans and fresh talent, has the team buzzing with optimism. Nationals remain the standard, but Roberts and the players also see this season as a chance to prove that their success does not depend on a traditional coaching structure. Instead, it’s built on the leadership of committed student-athletes and the culture they have created together.
With a history of championships, a new field to call home, and student leaders guiding the way, Oklahoma Christian Ultimate is once again positioned to compete at the highest level. Whether they add another trophy to their collection this year or not, the Eagles have already shown the rest of the Ultimate community their model works, and that they are here to stay.
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