Texas Tech University Athletics
Softball fills assistant coaching positions
July 27, 2026 | Softball
Jeff Cottrill and Shelby Pendley join the Red Raiders coaching staff
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech softball announced the hiring of assistant coaches Jeff Cottrill and Shelby Pendley to fill the open positions. Both bring a wealth of softball knowledge and experience from their previous stops.
Cottrill spent last season at Houston but before that served as the hitting coach for Missouri for the 2023-24 seasons. Prior to that, Cottrill was on staff at Oklahoma State for seven seasons, five as an assistant coach, where he helped the Cowgirls to two trips to the Women's College World Series. He has experience both as a pitching coach and a hitting coach throughout his college coaching career.
In 2021, Oklahoma State put up impressive offensive numbers under Cottrill. The Cowgirls finished in the top ten nationally in home runs (93, sixth), doubles (88, eighth), runs (356, eighth), hits (488, 10th) and slugging percentage (.556, 10th). Cottrill helped two Cowgirl hitters receive NFCA All-American honors in 2021, with four hitters finishing with double-digit home run totals and six batting over .300 on the season.
Pendley had a storied career at Oklahoma after an all-conference level season at Arizona her freshman year. With the Sooners, she named an NFCA All-American and NFCA First Team All-Region three times. Pendley was also named the Big 12 Player of the Year in 2013 and 2015 and helped the Sooners win a national championship in 2013.
She was also a top 10 finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, First Team All-Big 12 from 2013-15 and was First Team All-Pac 12 in 2012 during her one year at Arizona. She ended her career top 10 in NCAA history in home runs (84) and RBI (269) while playing shortstop for the Sooners. She also spent time in the pro league for the USSSA Pride where she was coached by Gerry Glasco. Pendley had coaching stints at New Mexico, Jackson State and Belhaven.
Fresh off another championship series appearance at the Women's College World Series, the Red Raiders look to reload with these coaching additions and the top-ranked transfer portal class in the country.
