A member of the Oakland City University Department of Athletics since 1989, Patti Buchta has been the head softball coach since 1992, where she has led the team to seven NCCAA Regional Championships (1998, 2006, 2010, 2016, 2021, 2022, 2023), and twelve NCCAA World Series Appearances (1997, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023), finishing as the National Runner-Up in 1997. Her 31-year career coaching record stands at 452-619.

Buchta served as the Head Volleyball Coach at OCU from 1989-2000 and again from 2009-15, earning three NCCAA Regional Championships, and five berths in the NCCAA National Championship Tournament (1998, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015). Her career volleyball coaching record stands at 267-235.

In addition, Buchta also served as Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach from 2003-13, Assistant Women's Basketball Coach from 1990-2001, and as Head Women's Golf Coach from 2000-04.

Buchta has served as Senior Woman Athletics Administrator since 1999, the Associate Athletic Director since 2020, as well as the Director of Transportation since 1992.

The all-time winningest coach in both softball and volleyball, Buchta was elected to the Oakland City University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.

Before coming to Oakland City University, Buchta coached at Pike Central High School in various capacities from 1982-90, including basketball, volleyball and track, where she still holds one school record in basketball (Season FG%, .610). While a student at Pike Central High School, Buchta earned 12 varsity letters, including four each in basketball and track, three in volleyball and one in tennis.

Coach Buchta continued her playing career at Wabash Valley College in Mt. Carmel, Illinois, playing basketball, softball and volleyball. She then transferred to Oakland City College to play basketball.

Patti is a graduate of Pike Central High School (IN, 1978), Wabash Valley College (IL, 1980) with an Associate Degree in General Studies, Oakland City University (IN, 1982) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and History, and holds a Master of Arts in Education from the University of Evansville (IN, 1987). She currently teaches in the Department of Health and Physical Education.

A lifelong resident of Otwell, Indiana, Buchta resides on her family's 200-acre homestead farm in Pike County.