Jamie Pinkerton was named the ninth head coach in Iowa State Softball history on August 2, 2017. His seven 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 during his time in Ames.
2024
Iowa State notched its fourth-straight season with at least 20 wins in 2024, navigating various injuries to its battery while producing one of the best offensive seasons of Pinkerton's tenure. Excluding the season shortened to COVID, the Cyclones played their fewest games in a season since 2011 thanks to unfortunate weather. Despite that, the Cyclones produced the second-highest single season batting average under Pinkerton (.272) and struck out the fewest times under his direction.
Iowa State's offense also mashed 51 homers, the second-most in a single season in program history. It is just the second season an ISU team hit 50 or more long balls. The team also drew 172 walks, the second-most in an ISU single season, showcasing discipline as a compliment to its power.
Coach Pink and the Cyclones' season was highlighted by three ranked wins, including a series win over then-No. 5 Oklahoma State at the Cyclone Sports Complex. The series win over Oklahoma State marked the highest-ranked series win in school history. ISU also defeated Baylor on the road earlier in the year. Another highlight for ISU came in the form of outfielder Angelina Allen who produced one of the best year's in school history. Allen was named an All-American for her efforts, making her the fourth ISU player to achieve the honor. Of Iowa State's four-ever All-Americans, two have come under Coach Pinkerton (Allen and Sami Williams).
2023
Under Pinkerton, Iowa State’s 2023 squad won 25 games for the third straight season, the second longest streak in school history. After opening up the 2023 campaign with some tough non-conference opponents, the Cyclones found their footing late, winning 12 of their final 17 games and advancing to the Big 12 Championship semifinals for the second consecutive season.
2023 was a big year for Coach Pink, as the skipper earned his 500th career win as well as his 150th win at Iowa State in the April 22 win over Colorado State. Pinkerton led the Cyclones to four top-25 wins, defeating No. 3 Oklahoma State on the road and downing No. 18/15 Baylor three times. The Cyclone win over Oklahoma State matched the largest upset in school history, as Iowa State defeated No. 3 Texas in Austin back in 2005. It was the second straight season ISU upset a top six OSU team.
Yet another new attendance record (1,515) was set under Pinkerton as ISU hosted No. 1 Oklahoma at the Cyclone Sports Complex. In fact, four of the top ten home crowds in school history were set during 2023. Coach Pink would also pick up his fourth straight win over the Iowa Hawkeyes, punctuating an Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk series victory with a 7-4 win.
2022
In 2022, Pinkerton led the Cyclones to their second consecutive winning season, and third under his tutelage, marking the first time since 1988-89 Iowa State has posted back-to-back winning seasons. ISU finished with a 28-27 overall record and a 6-12 mark in league play, culminating with a Big 12 Championship semifinal appearance.
During the year, Pinkerton’s Cyclones defeated No. 6 Oklahoma State at home, just the eighth win over a top 10 foe in program history and the highest ranked win for ISU since 2005. A new attendance record (1,450) was set as Iowa State hosted Iowa at the Cyclone Sports Complex and clinched the 2021-22 Cy-Hawk series with a 5-4 victory over the Hawkeyes.
2021
Pinkerton’s 2021 squad was perhaps the most accomplished team in the history of Iowa State softball. The Cyclones earned a bid to 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 64in just 57games.
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) onthe year with 54 RBI and an incredible .902 slugging percentage. The Pinkerton-Williams partnership was one for the ages, as WilliamsdepartedIowa 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 becamethe 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.
2020
Coach Pinkerton directed his team to an 11-13 record and had to navigate COVID-19 before the season was shut down and the remainder of action was canceled.
2019
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.
2018
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 wasalso masterful in late-game situations during his first season at the program’s helm, asIowa State went6-0 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.
Prior to being ISU Head Coach
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 alreadyfamiliar 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 15+-year head coaching career includes over 500 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 servedon the NCAA Division I Softball committee, 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 Todaypoll 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 fromIowa State in mechanical engineeringand a son, Dane.
Pinkerton’s coaching resume
1994-97: Assistant coach, Tulsa
1998: Assistant coach, Louisiana-Monroe
1999-2000: Assistant coach, Virginia
2001-04: Head coach, Tulsa
2005-09: Head coach, Arkansas
2010-13: Assistant coach, Iowa State
2014-17: Head coach, Montana
2018-present: Head coach, Iowa State
Pinkerton’s coaching record
2001 (Tulsa) ... 13-42 (3-13 WAC)
2002 (Tulsa) ... 48-16 (15-9 WAC)
2003 (Tulsa) ... 34-29 (8-12 WAC)
2004 (Tulsa) ... 45-18 (16-5 WAC)
Record at Tulsa:140-105
2005 (Arkansas) ... 19-43 (4-25 SEC)
2006 (Arkansas) ... 26-35 (10-19 SEC) (SEC tournament)
2007 (Arkansas) ... 21-43 (6-22 SEC)
2008 (Arkansas) ... 37-29 (8-20 SEC) (NCAA tournament)
2009 (Arkansas) ... 27-29 (10-16 SEC) (NCAA tournament)
Record at Arkansas:130-179
2015 (Montana) ... 16-34 (8-13 BSC)
2016 (Montana) ... 29-27 (14-7 BSC) (BSC tournament)
2017 (Montana) ... 35-24 (15-6 BSC) (NCAA tournament)
Record at Montana:80-85
2018(Iowa State) ... 23-33(4-14Big 12) (Big 12 tournament)
2019 (Iowa State) … 37-25(7-11 Big 12) (Big 12 Tournament) (NISC Finals)
2020 (Iowa State) … 11-13 (No Big 12 Play Due To COVID-19)
2021 (Iowa State) … 34-23(6-12 Big 12) (NCAATournament)
2022 (Iowa State) … 28-27 (6-12 Big 12) (Big 12 Tournament)
2023 (Iowa State)… 25-30 (6-12 Big 12) (Big 12 Tournament)
2024 (Iowa State) ...20-31 (6-18 Big 12) (Big 12 Tournament)
Record at Iowa State:178-182
Overall record:528-551
