AMES, Iowa – Iowa State softball head coach Jamie Pinkerton has announced the promotion of assistant coaches Courtney Herron-Martinez and Kate Sinnott. Both will now be associate head coaches.

“In their four years together, they’ve done a great job with their positions,” Pinkerton said. “It was important to me to keep the continuity of our program together. This keeps our program going in the direction we want and keeps our staff together. Both are very deserving of the promotion.”

The contributions of both coaches led to the greatest season in Iowa State history in 2021, as the Cyclones went 34-23 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1988.

Sinnott’s 2021 pitching staff was a critical piece to the greatest season in program history. Behind the arms of Karlie Charles and Ellie Spelhaug, Iowa State advanced 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. Iowa State’s 3.25 and 3.18 ERA’s in 2019 and 2020 were the two lowest totals in over 10 years for the Cyclones.

Martinez’s work with the Cyclone offense has led 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. Iowa State also set school records in runs, RBI and walks in 2021. 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 number eight overall in the Athletes Unlimited collegiate draft. Under 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.