COMMERCE– The Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team is pleased to announce the hiring of Gay McNutt as the team's pitching and catching coach. A&M-Commerce head softball coach Richie Bruister announced the hire this week.
 
"I am extremely excited to have added Coach McNutt to our staff and to say she will be working with our pitchers and catchers," Bruister said. "I have known Coach McNutt for many years and to be able to coach alongside her is truly an honor. Her passion, love, and energy for the game is absolutely Best in Class. She is going to have an immediate, positive impact not only on our pitchers and catchers but our entire team. Having won at the highest level as a player and coach, she brings a wealth of knowledge that she will pass along to our players and staff."
 
McNutt has coached softball for 32 years, 22 of which she spent as a Division I head coach. She comes to the Lions after two seasons as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of North Texas in 2017-18. Prior to her time at UNT, McNutt served as the head coach at Stephen F. Austin, where she coached for nine seasons before resigning after the 2016 season. Under her guidance, the Lumberjacks made five Southland Conference postseason tournaments and won the 2008 tournament championship, the first in program history.
 
Prior to her time at SFA, McNutt served as the head coach for seven seasons at Southern Mississippi, where she is the program's all-time leader in wins. She led USM to two Conference USA Championships. McNutt was also the head coach at Northwestern State for six seasons, winning three consecutive Southland Conference Championships in her final three seasons. As a coach, McNutt led her teams to seven conference championships and four NCAA Regional tournaments. She was named Southland Conference Coach of the Year four different times and also was named Conference USA Coach of the Year.

"I am extremely excited to enter the 2019 season with one of the best teams in the country, as well as joining such a quality staff in Coach Richie Bruister and Christina May," McNutt said. "I would like to extend my gratitude to Coach Bruister and Director of Athletics Tim McMurray for this tremendous opportunity."
 
McNutt earned her bachelor's degree in behavioral science from Louisiana-Lafayette, where she began her coaching career. She also served on coaching staffs at the University of Houston, and Alvin Community College.
 
Prior to her coaching career, McNutt was an All-American at Texas A&M, where she was inducted into the TAMU Hall of Fame in 2011. She was a four-year starter (1982-85) behind the plate for the Aggies, earning All-American honors as a senior and All-Region awards in all four of her seasons. She was a two-year team captain and helped lead the Aggies to three consecutive National Championship games, winning two. As a freshman, she helped the team win the 1982 AIAW Women's College World Series. As a sophomore, McNutt and the Aggies won the 1983 NCAA Women's College World Series and the team finished as the national runner-up in 1984.