Mowatt-McKinney Finalist For Assistant Coach Of The Year Award
August 19, 2026 | Softball
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State pitching coach Taryne Mowatt-McKinney is one of 25 finalists for D1Softball's 2026 Assistant Coach of the Year award.
A banner year from Mowatt-McKinney's bullpen helped the Bulldogs reach their first Women's College World Series this spring. It was her eighth trip to Oklahoma City between various stops along her playing and coaching career.
"Coach T has done a phenomenal job developing our pitching staff and preparing them to compete at the highest level," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "What our pitching staff accomplished this past season is a reflection of the competitive standard she sets every day. I'm proud to see her recognized for what we already know here in Starkville – that she is one of the best pitching coaches in the country."
The Bulldog pitching staff shattered nearly every team pitching mark in the book in 2026. They set new records for strikeouts (523) and strikeouts looking (121) overall and new conference-play program records for batting average against (.225), total strikeouts (179), strikeouts per seven innings (7.83) and fewest hits (134). MSU's arms were also second in school history in batting average against (.186), strikeouts per seven innings (8.71), shutouts (17) and strikeouts looking in SEC play (42). Despite one of the longest seasons in school history, the pitchers allowed just 280 hits and 160 runs, both of which were the seventh-lowest total on record.
Three pitchers posted top-10 batting average against marks in program history led by Leila Ammon (.182, 4th), who also averaged 1.24 walks per seven innings, which ranked eighth all-time at MSU. Alyssa Faircloth was next (.185, 5th), but also broke school records for strikeouts (268), strikeouts looking (70) and strikeouts per seven innings (10.56). Peja Goold's .186 average ranked sixth, and she was eighth in strikeouts (182) and second in shutouts (8).
For the second time in MSU history three pitchers tossed a no-hitter this spring, both seasons under Mowatt-McKinney's guidance. That stands just one no-hitter shy of the team record set in 2006 when two pitchers threw a pair each. In just three seasons, Mowatt-McKinney has called six no-hitters, which is already the third-highest total ever for a State pitching coach.
Additionally, Goold and Faircloth were both tabbed All-Americans, and both earned SEC Newcomer of the Year awards from various outlets. Pitchers under Mowatt-McKinney have now earned 10 national and conference weekly honors, which is more than the Bulldogs had seen in eight seasons from 2016-23. She has graduated a senior pitcher into the professional ranks every year.
Mowatt-McKinney played a vital part in developing former Bulldogs Peja Goold, Raelin Chaffin and Aspen Wesley, in preparation for their professional careers. In just one year, Wesley saw career-best results before being signed by the Texas Monarchs and later playing overseas. Mowatt-McKinney recruited Chaffin to Starkville, and after just one season the transfer received a golden ticket in the 2025 AUSL draft and won the 2025 AUSL Championship. This year, Goold went on to sign with the Oklahoma City Spark and made her AUSL debut.
The D1Softball National Assistant Coach of the Year, as well as the D1Softball Pitching Coach of the Year presented by PitchCom, will be announced on August 31st.
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
A banner year from Mowatt-McKinney's bullpen helped the Bulldogs reach their first Women's College World Series this spring. It was her eighth trip to Oklahoma City between various stops along her playing and coaching career.
"Coach T has done a phenomenal job developing our pitching staff and preparing them to compete at the highest level," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "What our pitching staff accomplished this past season is a reflection of the competitive standard she sets every day. I'm proud to see her recognized for what we already know here in Starkville – that she is one of the best pitching coaches in the country."
The Bulldog pitching staff shattered nearly every team pitching mark in the book in 2026. They set new records for strikeouts (523) and strikeouts looking (121) overall and new conference-play program records for batting average against (.225), total strikeouts (179), strikeouts per seven innings (7.83) and fewest hits (134). MSU's arms were also second in school history in batting average against (.186), strikeouts per seven innings (8.71), shutouts (17) and strikeouts looking in SEC play (42). Despite one of the longest seasons in school history, the pitchers allowed just 280 hits and 160 runs, both of which were the seventh-lowest total on record.
Three pitchers posted top-10 batting average against marks in program history led by Leila Ammon (.182, 4th), who also averaged 1.24 walks per seven innings, which ranked eighth all-time at MSU. Alyssa Faircloth was next (.185, 5th), but also broke school records for strikeouts (268), strikeouts looking (70) and strikeouts per seven innings (10.56). Peja Goold's .186 average ranked sixth, and she was eighth in strikeouts (182) and second in shutouts (8).
For the second time in MSU history three pitchers tossed a no-hitter this spring, both seasons under Mowatt-McKinney's guidance. That stands just one no-hitter shy of the team record set in 2006 when two pitchers threw a pair each. In just three seasons, Mowatt-McKinney has called six no-hitters, which is already the third-highest total ever for a State pitching coach.
Additionally, Goold and Faircloth were both tabbed All-Americans, and both earned SEC Newcomer of the Year awards from various outlets. Pitchers under Mowatt-McKinney have now earned 10 national and conference weekly honors, which is more than the Bulldogs had seen in eight seasons from 2016-23. She has graduated a senior pitcher into the professional ranks every year.
Mowatt-McKinney played a vital part in developing former Bulldogs Peja Goold, Raelin Chaffin and Aspen Wesley, in preparation for their professional careers. In just one year, Wesley saw career-best results before being signed by the Texas Monarchs and later playing overseas. Mowatt-McKinney recruited Chaffin to Starkville, and after just one season the transfer received a golden ticket in the 2025 AUSL draft and won the 2025 AUSL Championship. This year, Goold went on to sign with the Oklahoma City Spark and made her AUSL debut.
The D1Softball National Assistant Coach of the Year, as well as the D1Softball Pitching Coach of the Year presented by PitchCom, will be announced on August 31st.
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Players Mentioned
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