Iowa State University

Iowa State University Cyclone Softball
Jacobson Athletic Bldg - 1800 S Fourth St Ames, IA 50011

Division 1 Iowa Midwest

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Jamie Pinkerton

Jamie Pinkerton was named the ninth head coach in Iowa State Softball history on August 2, 2017. His four seasons coaching the Cyclone program have left no doubt that he is the right man for the job. Pinkerton's knack for building winning programs has been evident, as he’s coached Iowa State to eye-catching offensive numbers and unprecedented success on the national stage.

Pinkerton’s 2021 squad was perhaps the most accomplished team in the history of Iowa State softball. The Cyclones earned a bid the the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1988 - just the second bid in program history. Behind Pinkerton's leadership, the 2021 Cyclones advanced to the Columbia Regional final for the first regional final appearance in ISU history.

Iowa State also earned its first-ever ranking in the NFCA Top-25 Coaches poll on Feb. 23, 2021, debuting at No. 25 in the country. ISU’s unprecedented success has been sparked by Pinkerton engineering the greatest offense ever seen in Ames. For the third time in his four seasons at Iowa State, the Cyclones set a new school record for home runs – hitting 64 in just 57 games.

Perhaps no individual player better encapsulates Pinkerton’s coaching abilities than Cyclone standout Sami Williams. Under Pinkerton’s watchful eye, Williams was named a First Team All-American by the NFCA - the first player in program history to earn the honor. She put together a staggering statistical season in 2021. Williams broke single-season program records for batting average (.446) and home runs (21) on the year with 54 RBI and an incredible .902 slugging percentage. The Pinkerton-Williams partnership was one for the ages, as Williams departed Iowa State as the school's all-time leader in hits (329), doubles (79), home runs (67), RBI (180), runs scored (212), at-bats (833) and games played (253). She also became the Big 12's all-time leader in career hits, doubles and total bases (627) during her time in Ames. Her 79 career doubles are tied for third-most in NCAA DI softball history. Her 627 total bases are fourth-most in NCAA history.

In 2019, Pinkerton led one of the greatest seasons in program history. His Cyclone squad won 37 games, the second-winningest season in program history, and appeared in a national postseason tournament for the first time since 1988. Iowa State was No. 48 in the final RPI rankings, the highest RPI finish in program history to date.

The 2019 Cyclones not only won, they were fun to watch. Iowa State set a new single-season school record with 48 home runs, breaking the previous mark of 45 set in Pinkerton’s first season at the ISU helm. Led by All-American Sami Williams, Iowa State advanced to the NISC Finals in Fort Collins, Colo., claiming an NISC Regional Championship crown along the way. ISU’s fifth-place finish in the Big 12 is tied for its best final conference standing since 1993. The Cyclones also finished with a winning record for the first time since 1995.

The season was highlighted by one of the best victories on program history, as Iowa State defeated No. 8 Texas in the opening game of the 2019 Big 12 Championship, notching its first win over a top-10 team since March 9, 2013 (vs. No. 8 Oregon). It was the first postseason win over a top-10 team program history.

Under Pinkerton's tutelage, the 2018 Cyclones hit a then school-record 45 home runs, shattering the previous mark of 40 set in 2013 during Pinkerton's first stint in Ames as an assistant coach. He was also masterful in late-game situations during his first season at the program’s helm, as Iowa State went 6-0 in extra-inning games in 2018, and also went 9-3 in games decided by one run. The Cyclones clinched a Big 12 postseason bid for the second-consecutive year, finishing sixth in the conference to punch their ticket to the 2018 Big 12 Championship in Oklahoma City.

Pinkerton, whose program-building prowess was well documented throughout his career, was a head coach at Tulsa, Arkansas and Montana prior to taking the reigns at Iowa State.

Pinkerton was already familiar with the Cyclones before arriving in Ames in 2017, having served as assistant coach for four years (2009-13). In his first stint at ISU, Pinkerton was instrumental in developing a strong offense. The 2013 Cyclones set schools records for runs (284), home runs (40), RBI (253) and walks (166).

Pinkerton left Iowa State after the 2013 season to start a softball program at the University of Montana. For a year, he built a roster from scratch, hired coaches, ordered equipment, assembled a schedule, served a key role in building a facility and laid the groundwork for a Division I program.

The Griz' softball program had an immediate impact when it began play in the Big Sky Conference and raised its win total all three years. His last team was 35-24 (15-6 in the league), won the Big Sky Conference Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

Pinkerton was named Big Sky Coach of the Year twice in his three seasons at Montana. His players earned all-conference honors 19 times on the field and 13 times in the classroom over three seasons.

Before his stint as an assistant for the Cyclones (2010-13), Pinkerton was head coach at Arkansas (2005-09). The Razorbacks made the NCAA Tournament his final two years (first time Arkansas made the post-season in consecutive years) and re-wrote the school record book offensively. His Arkansas teams also received academic accolades from the NFCA.

Pinkerton got his opportunity at Arkansas after a highly successful tenure at Tulsa. After three seasons as an assistant with the Golden Hurricane, he was promoted to head coach in 2001. Tulsa registered two 40-win seasons (48-16 in 2002 and 45-18 in 2004) and he was named conference coach-of-the-year both years. The 2002 season was the first winning campaign in program history.

Pinkerton's 12-year head coaching career includes 350 victories, three NCAA Tournament berths and four conference coach-of-the-year honors. He has coaching experience with both USA National teams and Junior Olympic teams and also served as an assistant coach on the 2010 USA Futures team.

Pinkerton's extensive coaching resume also includes stints at Virginia (assistant, 1998-2000), UL-Monroe (grad assistant, 1997-98), Claremore-Sequoyah, Okla., High School (assistant, 1994) and the Oklahoma Mustangs (1988-94).

Pinkerton has served on the NCAA Division I Softball committee (present), on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America Committee from 2008-09 and 2015-2017(chair in 2017), the NFCA Coaches Committee as Big Sky representative from 2016-2017, was a voting member on the NFCA / USA Today poll and worked as a NCAA Softball West Region Committee member (2003-04).

Jamie earned his history degree from Tulsa in 1997. He and his wife, Dori, have a daughter Sarah, who graduated from Iowa State in mechanical engineering and a son, Dane.

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Courtney Herron-Martinez

Courtney Martinez is entering her fifth season as an assistant coach in the Iowa State softball program, and her impact has been profound. Martinez’s work with the Cyclone infield and at the plate has been an integral part of the program’s culture change under head coach Jamie Pinkerton.

Martinez's work with the Cyclone offense has lead to an incredible turnaround for the program. The Cyclones have set a new single-season program home run record in each of the three full season she has been on staff. The work culminated in 2021's offense that hit 64 home runs in just 57 games en route to Iowa State's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1988, and the school's first-ever appearance in a NCAA Regional Final.

Martinez’s work with Cyclone phenom Sami Williams was instrumental in bringing the ISU program to new heights. With Martinez as a guide, Williams became the first NFCA First Team All-American in program history, and was selected No. 8 overall in the Athletes Unlimited collegiate draft. Under's Martinez's tutelage, Williams put together a staggering statistical season in 2021. Williams broke single-season program records for batting average (.446) and home runs (21) on the year with 54 RBI and an incredible .902 slugging percentage. The native of Laguna Niguel, Calif., is departing Iowa State as the school's all-time leader in hits (329), doubles (79), home runs (67), RBI (180), runs scored (212), at-bats (833) and games played (253). She is also the Big 12's all-time leader in career hits, doubles and total bases (627). Her 79 career doubles are tied for third-most in NCAA DI softball history. Her 627 total bases are fourth-most in NCAA history.

In 2019, Martinez helped mold a Cyclone squad that won 37 games, the second-winningest season in program history, and appeared in a national postseason tournament for the first time since 1988. Iowa State was No. 48 in the final RPI rankings, released by the NCAA. It is the highest RPI finish in program history. The resurgence started on defense, where Iowa State has boasted one of the most improved units over the past several seasons under Martinez’s watch.

The infield has seen marked improvement each season they’ve had learning from Martinez. In her first season on staff, Iowa State’s fielding percentage rose to .956, up from .946 in 2017, and took another immense leap in 2019. The 2019 Cyclones were one of the most improved defensive units in the country, ranking third in the Big 12 with a .967 fielding percentage. Iowa State also ranked No. 5 nationally in double plays turned with 32 on the season.

Martinez joined the Cyclone softball family from UNLV, where she had served as the associate head softball coach.

Martinez, who joined the UNLV coaching staff in 2015 as an assistant, was elevated to associate head coach after just one season with the Rebels. During her time at UNLV, Martinez specialized in mentoring the Rebel infield and the team’s hitting instruction, as well as her responsibilities in recruiting.

“I am grateful to Coach Pinkerton and Iowa State for this opportunity to be a part of the Cyclone family,” Martinez said when she was hired. “Coach Pinkerton has a proven ability to create winning traditions in every program he has worked with throughout his career. I am excited to be a part of his staff and to bring my experiences to his vision for the future of the Iowa State softball program.”

Martinez came to UNLV after two seasons as an assistant at CSU Bakersfield, where she helped the program transition from independent status into the Western Athletic Conference. One year after a sixth-place finish in the team's inaugural season in the WAC, CSUB moved up to fourth in 2015 and claimed runner-up status at the conference's postseason tournament. Under her watch, six student-athletes were named All-WAC, and four were chosen for WAC All-Tournament recognition. In addition, Kelsie Monroe earned the WAC's Pitcher of the Year honors as well as a nod on the NFCA's All-Pacific Region Third Team. In the classroom, the team had 11 individuals earn WAC All-Academic honors and five more selected as NFCA Scholar-Athletes.

The Chino Hills, Calif., native played four years (2006-09) at Cal State Fullerton where she started 217 games and helped the team to four straight NCAA Regionals and one Super Regional in 2007. The Big West recognized her twice when she was named its Player of the Week (2007) and as a Second Team selection (2009). During her senior season, she led the team in batting average (.327), on-base percentage (.402) and slugging percentage (.584). She concluded her career ranked in the top 10 in triples, sacrifice flies, sacrifice bunts and fielding assists.

She played internationally in Italy with Nuoro.

Her coaching career began with two stints as a volunteer assistant at Cal State Fullerton (2009-10) and Azusa Pacific (2010-11). She was promoted to an assistant position at Azusa Pacific in Sept. 2011, where she also served as an academic mentor, athletic compliance assistant and as an assistant supervisor for the university's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Martinez received her undergraduate degree in communications from Cal State Fullerton in 2009. She earned her master’s degree in college counseling and student development from Azusa Pacific four years later.

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Kate Sinnott

Kate Sinnott has been at the forefront of a remarkable resurgence by Iowa State’s pitchers over the last four seasons. Sinnott, who was named an assistant coach on August 15, 2017, took over responsibility of the Cyclone pitching staff and the results have been outstanding.

Sinnott's 2021 bullpen was a critical piece to the greatest season in program history. Behind the arms of Karlie Charles and Ellie Spelhaug, the Cyclones went 34-23 en route to Iowa State's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1988. Iowa State would advance to the NCAA Columbia Regional Final for the first regional final in school history. Sinnott's work with one of the youngest pitching staffs in the entire country was no small feat. With a bullpen that featured just one player with Big 12 experience, 86 percent of all innings during the 2021 season were thrown by underclassmen.

In 2019, Sinnott’s pitching staff helped propel Iowa State to one of the greatest seasons in program history. The Cyclones won 37 games, the second-winningest season in program history, and appeared in a national postseason tournament for the first time since 1988. Iowa State’s stable of pitchers posted a 3.25 ERA on the season, the program’s best mark in over a decade.

Sinnott’s ability to teach pitchers is perhaps best exemplified by her work with ace Emma Hylen. Under Sinnott’s watchful eye, Hylen put together one of the finest individual campaigns in program history in 2019, becoming the first Cyclone pitcher to earn All-Midwest Region honors since 2002. Hylen went 19-11 with three saves and tallied a 2.75 ERA, the lowest by a Cyclone hurler since 2010. Hylen led the Cyclones to the NISC Finals and was named an All-Tournament selection.

With Sinnott as her guide, Hylen ended her career as Iowa State’s all-time leader in saves with nine. She also climbed into the school’s all-time top-10 in several categories. Her 45 career wins are T-No. 4 in ISU history. She is also among the all-time leaders in appearances (T-No. 2- 148), games started (No. 4 - 79), innings pitched (No. 3 - 571.1) and strikeouts (No. 9 - 321).

Sinnott specializes in building scouting reports and helping her staff with control and pitch location. Her work in these areas has been evident. Upon first arriving at Iowa State, Sinnott was tasked with reigning in a pitching staff that had amassed 251 walks in 2017 prior to her arrival. By 2019, that number had been reduced to just 161.

Sinnott was announced as the first addition to head coach Jamie Pinkerton's coaching staff upon his arrival in Ames.

“I felt Kate was the person to help us make the transition as seamless as possible for our student-athletes," Sinnott said. "Over the past eight years, I have had the pleasure to get to know Kate both professionally and personally. During that time of working with her at Iowa State and during camps; I have been able to learn her philosophies about pitching. During the interview process after my hire, I was impressed with her vision and am excited to see her put her plan in place for our program.”

Pinkerton and Sinnott previously worked together at Iowa State from 2010-13, when Pinkerton was an assistant coach and Sinnott was transitioning from graduate assistant to director of softball operations.

Sinnott, indeed, rejoins the Iowa State softball staff with a wealth of knowledge, having been with the program from 2008-16. She began her time in Ames as a graduate assistant with the Cyclones from 2008-10, before moving into the role of director of operations in 2011.

In that position, Sinnott handled coordinating team video, scouting reports, team travel and recruiting arrangements. She also served as ISU’s interim pitching coach in 2015, where her experience and knowledge of the position were utilized in scouting and recruiting, as well as teaching.

Sinnott came to Iowa State following a stint as assistant coach at Spokane Falls Community College in Spokane, Wash. The Great Falls, Mont. native, served as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator for the Bigfoot. She was also the team's strength and conditioning coordinator and organized team travel.

Sinnott played college ball for the Bigfoot, where she was the school's winningest pitcher with 37 career wins. She completed her collegiate career at Eastern Oregon.

Sinnott graduated with a master's degree in education from Iowa State in the summer of 2010.