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Kate Sinnott (sin-it) has been at the forefront of a remarkable resurgence by Iowa State’s pitchers over the last six seasons. Sinnott, who was named an assistant coach on August 15, 2017 and later promoted to an associate head coach, took over responsibility of the Cyclone pitching staff and the results have been outstanding. Sinnott was announced as the first addition to head coach Jamie Pinkerton's coaching staff upon his arrival in Ames.
2024
The 2024 Iowa State pitching battery was marred by injuries, as seniors Karlie Charles and Saya Swain each had to miss time. Iowa State catchers Angelita Fuentes and Camille Marin also missed time with ailments, as the pitching staff went young real quick. In fact, ISU's rotation went through so many injuries, it was the first season in school history (excluding the COVID-shortened season) that an ISU pitcher didn't accumulate 100 innings thrown.
Coach Sinnott helped the Cyclones navigate these unknown waters, as Jaiden Ralston had a solid sophomore season in the circle. Ralston tallied three saves and had the highest strikeout total of all ISU pitchers. Both freshmen Aziza Rodriguez and Lauren Schurman showed flashes and grew throughout the year, while Tatum Johnson also made appearances for the Cyclones.
2023
Sinnott led the 2023 pitching staff to its most strikeouts under Coach Pinkerton, as the crew of pitchers struck out 301 batters, the most since 2017. It’s just the seventh time in program history ISU has struck out 300+ batters. Coach Sinnott found ways to be efficient with her staff despite multiple pitchers sustaining injuries throughout the season. Under Coach Sinnott, Saya Swain earned the most saves in a single season in program history in 2023, as the junior from Paris, Texas tallied six saves.
2022
Iowa State’s pitching staff improved greatly after another offseason with Sinnott. The Cyclone arms trimmed the team ERA to 3.96 in 2022 and were an integral part of a late-season surge that saw the Cyclones advance to the semifinals of the Big 12 Championship. Over the final 10 games of the season, the staff posted a 2.30 ERA. The most outstanding performance of the season came from Saya Swain, who broke Iowa State’s single-game record with 17 strikeouts against UNI on Feb. 13 and was one of 11 pitchers in the nation to log two games of 16+ strikeouts during the season.
2021
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.
2019
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.
Prior to being an Assistant Coach
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 rejoined 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.
