Mississippi State softball makes dynamic pitching coach hire

Samantha Ricketts and the Mississippi State softball program took a major step forward as the Bulldogs announced the hiring of an incredible pitching coach.

Mississippi State baseball isn’t the only program making remarkable pitching coach hires as of late. Samantha Ricketts added to her Mississippi State softball coaching staff by picking up an incredible pitching coach.

The Mississippi State Bulldogs made the move to add a Women’s College World Series MVP to their staff as Ricketts and company found a way to bring Taryne Mowatt-McKinney to Starkville.

Ricketts needed to make a splash after a less-than-ideal season and the hiring of a star like Mowatt-McKinney is certainly a move that will get some attention moved towards Mississippi State softball.

Mississippi State softball hires remarkable pitching coach in Taryne Mowatt-McKinney

In her statement following the hiring of Mowatt-McKinney, Ricketts acknowledged how much of a competitor Mississippi State’s new pitching coach is.

“Her experience and expertise has guided pitchers to the World Series and numerous national honors, which is exactly what we were looking for to lead our pitching staff,” Ricketts said in her statement.

Mowatt-McKinney has been instrumental in developing the pitching staffs wherever she’s been. While with the Arizona Wildcats, Mowatt-McKinney’s pitching staffs were key in helping her alma mater make it to the Women’s College World Series.

Arizona routinely had dominant forces in the circle posting impressive stats under Mowatt-McKinney’s guidance. The Bulldogs would certainly benefit from some help in that department as they attempt to make a breakthrough in the SEC.

As MSU notes in its official press release, Arizona’s pitching staff was able to record three straight seasons of having a team ERA that was less than 2.00.

Now, that includes the COVID-19-impacted 2020 season, but that’s still a remarkable feat.

This is big for the Bulldogs. Ricketts was able to guide MSU softball to its first Super Regional. Now with a splashy hire like this, maybe the Bulldogs can continue to thrive.