Cyclone Softball Camps
Coaching Staff

Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cesler
Head Coach

Iowa State head softball coach Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cesler enters her sixth season at the helm of the program. Gemeinhardt-Cesler has guided the Cyclones to a 117-130 mark in her first five years with the program. She holds a career mark of 270-206 record in nine seasons of coaching collegiate softball.

The 2010 season was marked by a 26-29 overall record that included a seven game winning streak as the Cyclones came into conference play. Iowa State faced five top 22 teams, four top 15, during Big 12 play as the team finished 4-14 with wins at Texas Tech and Kansas and a season sweep of Nebraska.

For the second-straight year, the Cyclones broke the school records for runs batted (196) and runs scored (221) eclipsing the 2009 marks of 190 and 215, respectively.

Seniors Courtney Wray and Kelsey Kidwell were named to the All-Big 12 first and second teams, respectively in 2010. Wray was the first Cyclone to be selected to the top team since the 2004 season. Wray led the Cyclones in hitting against conference foes on the year, batting .351 with an Iowa State-record 197 hits. Wray and Kidwell led the Cyclones with eight runs scored in conference play and Kidwell became the first Cyclone in Iowa State history to record 50 or more hits in three-straight seasons.

Junior Rachel Zabriskie continued to tear up the pitching record books in 2010, collecting an Iowa State-best 255 strikeouts in 227.2 innings pitched, a Cyclone-record 7.84 strikeouts per seven innings. Zabriskie finished the season with a school-record 20 wins, the third-straight year she broke the record for wins. 

In 2009, Iowa State finished 26-29 overall and won a school-record seven games in Big 12 play. After starting slow in league action, Iowa State was the second-best team in the Big 12 over the final half of the season despite being hampered by a number of injuries to key players, going 6-3 to finish 7-11. The Cyclones advanced to the second round of the Big 12 Championships in back-to-back seasons for the first time in school history.

Iowa State broke the school record, which was previously set in 2008, with 190 runs batted in. They also tied the mark for runs scored (215), which was set in 2008 as well.

Alex Johnson and Zabriskie were named to the All-Big 12 second team after strong seasons. Johnson drove in 38 runs to become just the second player in school history to drive in 30+ runs in back-to-back seasons. Zabriskie shouldered nearly all the load in the circle and went on to win 18 games, the most by a Cyclone hurler since 1987.

Amanda Bradberry was named to the Big 12 All-Tournament team after going 4-for-6 in the tournament and hitting a two-run homer in the sixth inning against Kansas that broke up a scoreless tie. Bradberry is just the third Cyclone to be named to the team.

The Cyclones continued their success off the field as well with eight players earning academic All-Big 12 accolades. Since Gemeinhardt-Cesler's arrival, 30 Iowa State softball players have received the honor.

Gemeinhardt-Cesler coached Iowa State to an 18-4 mark in 2008 before missing the season's final 36 games while taking maternity leave.

Iowa State finished 29-29 in 2008, the most wins by the school since 1989 and the first time it finished .500 or better since 1995. For the third-straight season, the Cyclones increased their stolen base total, finishing with 67 as a team. Kidwell tied the single-season school record with 18 stolen bases.

Iowa State also set school records for runs (215), home runs (38) and runs batted in (187).

First baseman Sydni Jones was voted to the All-Big 12 second team after hitting .319 with three homers in league play. Zabriskie earned all-tournament team honors for Iowa State at the Big 12 Championships, tossing a complete-game 10-inning win over Baylor and limiting a potent Texas A&M squad to just one run in a loss to the Aggies. Zabriskie threw three no-hitters during her rookie campaign.

In Gemeinhardt-Cesler's second season, the coach's philosophy of blending speed and power began to take shape on the field as Iowa State nearly doubled its stolen base numbers from the previous year with 63 steals. The improved speed didn't hinder their power as the Cyclones hit 24 homers, the most since 2002.

Individually, Kristy Olsen swiped 17 bases, which is second in school history, and four players belted five or more home runs for the first time in school history. Johnson had a freshman record 62 hits and also hit six homers to capture all-league honors.

Alyssa Ransom earned Big 12 Pitcher-of-the-Week accolades after earning the win in both of Iowa State's victories over Kansas. Ransom was the third player under Gemeinhardt-Cesler to be honored by the conference. In the nine years prior to Gemeinhardt-Cesler's tenure as Iowa State head coach, the Cyclones garnered two player-of-the-week honors.

In her first season in Ames, Iowa State showed improvement in nearly every hitting category, including a jump in batting average from just .208 in 2005 to .250 in 2006, the highest team batting average since 2002. Eight Iowa State hitters had an improved batting average, including all-Big 12 catcher Ashley Killeen, whose average jumped from .257 to .336.

The teams that Gemeinhardt-Cesler has coached throughout her career have displayed a rare blend of speed and power. In her first year at the helm of the Iowa State program, the Cyclones improved their power numbers and ran the bases more aggressively, en route to the most stolen bases (35) and home runs (19) since 2003.

The Cyclones' first season under Gemeinhardt-Cesler included wins over No. 15 Texas A&M, No. 16 Nebraska and No. 22 Oklahoma in consecutive Big 12 series. Against the Aggies, Iowa State showed off its improved offense, pounding out a Big 12 school-record 14 runs in the six-inning win.

Killeen and Jennifer Bigbee were named All-Big 12, while Killeen joined Katie Reichling on the NFCA All-Midwest Region Second Team. Iowa State also placed a league-high nine student-athletes on the academic All-Big 12 teams in 2006.

Gemeinhardt-Cesler, a two-time Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Coach of the Year selection at Division II Emporia State, compiled a 153-76 record (.668) in just four seasons at ESU. Hired as a graduate assistant coach in August 2001, Gemeinhardt-Cesler took over the Hornet program in November following the retirement of Jo Kord.

The Hornet record book was rewritten during Gemeinhardt-Cesler's tenure, including the school marks for wins, home runs, runs scored, stolen bases and shutouts. Her players set the single-season mark for strikeouts, hits, doubles, RBI and stolen bases. Pitcher Melissa Stevens was named the league's 2005 MVP and earned NFCA All-America honors. She was tabbed the MIAA Freshman of the Year in Gemeinhardt-Cesler's second season.

Gemeinhardt-Cesler, a two-time all-conference performer at Missouri, began her coaching career as a student assistant at her alma mater, spending one season on the Tiger bench. The outfielder was a two-time team MVP for Missouri and earned all-region honors three times. A three-time Big 12 Conference all-tournament selection, Gemeinhardt-Cesler also earned NSCA and ASA All-America recognition, as well as academic All-America honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. She finished her career ranked among the top 10 in nine career statistical categories, helping the Tigers make two NCAA regional appearances and earn the 1997 Big 12 Conference regular-season and tournament championships. Gemeinhardt-Cesler earned a bachelor's degree in social work from Missouri in 2001 and a master's of business administration from Emporia State in 2004.

Gemeinhardt-Cesler and her husband, Jeff Cesler, were married in December of 2006 and reside in Ames. The couple has twin boys, Jakoby and Korbin, who were born in June 2008.

  Gary Hines
Assistant Coach

In his sixth season as an assistant coach at Iowa State, Gary Hines' positive impact on the Cyclone pitching staff has been repeatedly demonstrated.

In 2010, the Cyclone pitching staff recorded the second-most strikeouts ever with 321 which included 87 strikeouts looking, the most in Iowa State history. The staff struck out an average of 6.25 batters per seven innings in 2010, another Cyclones record. The 34 stolen bases allowed by Hines' staff and the Iowa State catchers is the lowest number allowed in program history. Once again, the pitching staff was led by Rachel Zabriskie who recorded a 20-17 record on the year. Her 20 wins is the most-ever by a Cyclone pitcher. Zabriskie struck out 255 batters in 227.2 innings pitched, an Iowa State-record average of 7.84 strikeouts per seven innings.

In 2009, the Iowa State pitching staff continued its improvement by dropping its ERA to 2.73. It marked the second-straight year lowering the team ERA. The Cyclone pitching staff, which was depleted by injury, struck out 275 batters, while walking just 79. The staff was led by Zabriskie, who earned All-Big 12 second team honors. Zabriskie, who was forced to pitch 271.1 of the 369.2 innings, posted 18 wins in 2009, the most by an Iowa State pitcher since 1987. She finished eighth in the Big 12 with a 2.37 earned run average.

In 2008, Hines' staff lowered its ERA to 3.15 from 3.35 in 2007. For the first time since 1995, Iowa State had two pitchers with a better than .500 winning percentage. Zabriskie finished 15-14 and Charissa Carlin went 10-9 to give Iowa State two pitchers with an above .500 record and at least 10 wins for the first time since 1989.

Zabriskie tossed three no-hitters in her first four career starts and went on to break the Iowa State freshman record for strikeouts, finishing with 146. She ended the season 14th in the Big 12 with a 2.62 ERA and was named to the all-tournament team at the Big 12 Championships after pitching Iowa State to a win over Baylor. She was the first Cyclone to be named to the all-tournament team since 1996.

Under Hines' leadership, Iowa State's pitchers struck out 323 hitters in 2007. The total also ranks as the second most in Iowa State single-season history. The staff's control also showed improvement as Iowa State allowed just 93 walks after allowing 113 in 2006. Alyssa Ransom wrapped up her career with a career-best 138 strikeouts and 12 wins while posting a 2.71 ERA. After Hines' arrival at Iowa State, Ransom's ERA dropped from 3.00 in her first two seasons to 2.57 during the final two years of her career.

In 2006, Hines' first season with the team, Iowa State improved in nearly every category. The Cyclones' team ERA dropped to 2.52, the lowest since 2003. The Cyclones also struck out 109 more batters than in 2005, while holding opponents to a .265 batting average.

When head coach Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cesler was looking for an assistant coach to work with the pitching staff, she went with a familiar face in Hines. Hines came to Iowa State after serving as a pitching consultant for Gemeinhardt's Emporia State teams since 2002.

Hines has an impressive resumé of producing top-notch pitching staffs. He served as an assistant at Kansas from 1976-1988, coaching eight all-conference pitchers during his tenure with the Jayhawks under former KU head coach Bob Stanclift.

Hines has been involved with softball for over 30 years as a player or coach. Hines, a Russell, Kan., native, served as pitching coach for the Kansas City Fusion 18 and under team from 2001-05. His summer teams have all qualified for national tournaments, with recent finishes of ninth at the USSSA nationals and fifth at the ASA Northern nationals in 2005.

Five of his former players went on to pitch in the collegiate ranks.

While serving as an assistant and consultant, Hines spent the last 15 years as the Athletic Fields Supervisor in Lawrence, Kan. His duties included supervising six full-time and 20 part-time employees while being responsible for 2,000 acres of park land, including three athletic complexes.

Hines is a member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association in addition to the National Sports Turf Managers Association. He also holds membership with MOKAN STMA and the Youth Sports Incorporated Management Board.

Hines has over 15 years of experience playing fastpitch.

Jamie Pinkerton
Assistant Coach

Jamie Pinkerton is in his second season as an assistant coach for the Cyclones. Under Pinkerton's tutelage, the 2010 Cyclones batted a record-high .275 and slugging .389, another Iowa State record. Under Pinkerton, the 2010 Iowa State hitters also drove in more runs (196), had more hits (406) and hit more triples (14) than ever before.

In his first season with the Cyclones, Pinkerton's work with the infielders was key in Iowa State posting the highest fielding percentage in school history (.962). Pinkerton also played part in the team's record-low 28 sacrifice hits allowed and the Cyclones' committing only 57 errors on the season, another Iowa State record.

Before joining the Cyclones coaching staff, Pinkerton was the head softball coach at the University of Arkansas for five seasons, leading the Razorbacks to NCAA Tournament appearances in 2008 and 2009. Under Pinkerton's guidance, the Razorbacks set numerous single-game, single-season and career records, including single-season records of 65 home runs and 291 runs in 2008.

During Pinkerton's tenure, three players were named to the Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Team as well as the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association South Region First Team. He had 31 student-athletes garner SEC Academic Honor Roll honors and the team was recognized by the NFCA for its GPA.

Pinkerton was selected to the USA Softball National Coaching Pool and will serve from 2009-12. He is one of 14 coaches responsible for the training and preparation of the Women's National Team program.

Prior to his tenure at Arkansas, Pinkerton coached four years at Tulsa, turning the Golden Hurricanes into a winning program. He coached Tulsa to three-straight 30-win seasons and back-to-back 40-win campaigns. He was named Western Athletic Conference Coach of the year in 2002 and 2004.

A total of 13 Golden Hurricane players captured all-conference honors under Pinkerton, who was also an assistant with the program from 1994-97. He has also assisted at Virginia (1998-2000) and Louisiana-Monroe (1997-98).

Pinkerton was born in Fort Smith, Ark., and grew up in Broken Arrow, Okla. He graduated from Tulsa in 1997 with a bachelor's degree in history and a minor in secondary education. Pinkerton and his wife, Dori, have two children, a daughter, Sarah, and a son, Dane.

Kate Sinnott
Graduate Assistant
 
Kate Sinnott is in her third year as a member of the Iowa State coaching staff. She served as a graduate assistant with the Cyclones from 2009-10, moving into the role of director of operations in 2011.

Sinnott is responsible for coordinating team video and general office duties including scouting reports, travel and recruiting.

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.

Lanae Davis
Volunteer Assistant Coach

Lanae Davis is in her second year as a volunteer coach with the Cyclones.

Davis played under Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cesler in 2006 and 2007 before becoming the team's manager from 2007-2009.

In 2009 Davis earned a bachelor's degree in kinesiology and heath with a focus on health and fitness management from Iowa State. She is currently earning a master's degree from Ball State University in physical education with a concentration on coaching.

A native of State Center, Iowa, Davis is the only daughter of Al and Lois Davis.