Softball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- cb687@umkc.edu
Cody Barham enters his first season with Kansas City Softball in 2025. He joined Kansas City after serving the past four years as an assistant coach at Missouri Southern. During his time with the Lions, the team posted a 120-77-1 record, including a 66-37-1 mark in MIAA play. He has also made coaching stops at Tulsa, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma Wesleyan.
“I chose Kansas City because I believe in the vision of what Coach Stokes O’Connor has in store for this program, and I believe that together we can take it to new heights,” Barham said.
In his current role, Barham is tasked with coaching the pitchers and catchers, as well as assisting in recruiting efforts.
“I am really excited to bring Cody’s experience to Kansas City,” Coach Stokes O’Connor said. “He has had a lot of successful pitchers in his career and I’m looking forward to seeing him develop our bullpen. His energy and presence are contagious, and to bring that to a pitching staff is going to be exciting to see.”
In 2024, Barham’s pitching staff posted a combined ERA of 3.24, compiling 255 strikeouts and allowing just 89 extra base hits in 1,377 plate appearances. Kiki Pickens posted an outstanding freshman campaign, going for a 2.01 ERA, a 10-7 record and collecting Gold Glove All-MIAA honors. In addition, utility/pitcher Kara Amos earned Second Team All-MIAA honors, the fourth All-MIAA selection of her career.
The 2023 Lion pitching staff went for a 2.82 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP, striking out 292 batters on the year. Avery Tallman carried the load for the MSSU, earning All-Region, All-MIAA and All-MIAA Tournament Team selections. The Lions finished with a 41-15 record, earning an at-large bid to the NCAA DII Tournament.
In 2022, Missouri Southern finished above .500 for the third-straight year, as the squad went 26-25 overall. Barham’s pitching staff was led by Bailey Lacy and Kara Amos, each finishing with over 100 strikeouts, just the second time in program history that two pitchers reached that mark in the same year. Both players earned All-MIAA honors on the season.
The 2021 season saw the Lions picked to finish 11th in the MIAA preseason polls before finishing third with a 19-6-1 conference record. Pitchers Kara Amos and Abby Atkin were each named All-MIAA, while Amos also earned Second Team All-Region honors from the NCFA.
Prior to his time at MSSU, he was an assistant coach at Tulsa for the 2020 season, working with catchers and coaching first base. His time at Oklahoma State saw a fifth-place showing at the 2019 Women’s College World Series and an NFCA Midwest Regional Coaching Staff of the Year award.
Barham’s coaching career began at Oklahoma Wesleyan, spending four years as an assistant and junior varsity head coach. He worked with the pitching staff, including Jenna Daniel, the 2014 and 2015 MCAC Pitcher of the Year, 2016 KCAC Pitcher of the Year and a 2016 Second Team NAIA All-American.
Born in Tulsa, Okla., Barham was a four-time state champion in high school, earning three All-State honors. He earned his degree from Rogers State in 2020.
