Cottrill reportedly out as Mizzou softball hitting coach

Following Mizzou softball’s first season missing the NCAA Tournament since 2006, it made its first move of the offseason.

Tigers hitting coach Jeff Cottrill will reportedly not return to the Mizzou coaching staff in 2026, according to D1Softball on Tuesday.

"At this time, Mizzou has no comment on the report," an MU spokesperson told the Missourian on Tuesday.

Cottrill spent three seasons at Mizzou after spending seven years at Oklahoma State with the latter five as an assistant coach.

During Cottrill’s tenure at Missouri, he most notably helped the team to a Super Regional appearance in 2024. In 2025, Cottrill — while serving as the program's hitting coach and third base coach — couldn’t help the Tigers find their rhythm as the team finished last in batting average across the SEC with a .255 mark.

In his time with the Cowgirls, he helped the team to three Women’s College World Series appearances. After serving as the Director of Operations for two seasons, Cottrill became the Oklahoma State's pitching coach for 2018 and 2019, before taking over the hitters in 2020. In 2022, Cottrill packed his bags for Columbia.

Junior outfielder Haidyn Sokoloski, who came to Missouri after two seasons at Oklahoma State, cited Cottrill’s coaching techniques as a main reason why she transferred to the Tigers.

“Whenever I first entered the portal, I texted Jeff Cottrill,” Sokoloski said Feb. 25 in a one-on-one interview with the Missourian. “He understood what I was capable of. … I always wanted (Cottrill) to be my hitting coach.”