MISSOULA — The University of Montana has named three finalists in its search for the school’s inaugural softball coach.
Search committee chairwoman Jean Gee says the finalists are Oklahoma State assistant coach Tom Gray, McNeese State head coach Mike Smith and Iowa State assistant Jamie Pinkerton.
During Gray’s time at Oklahoma State, the softball team has advanced to the NCAA tournament three times. Smith was a pitcher in the St. Louis Cardinals organization and has a 708-209 record as a head coach, including an NAIA national championship at California Baptist. Pinkerton previously was a head coach at Arkansas, where the team made two NCAA tournament appearances.
School officials say Gray will be in Missoula on Monday, Smith on Tuesday and Pinkerton on Wednesday.
Montana will begin playing softball in the 2014-15 school year.