Joan Joyce is no stranger to accomplishments. The legendary career of the longtime Florida Atlantic University head softball coach is certainly a decorated one. She is a member of 20 Halls of Fame, has won four professional softball World Series titles and has led FAU to 12 conference championships as well as 11 NCAA Tournaments. Joyce even struck out one of the greatest hitters of all-time, Ted Williams, in 1961.
On March 18, 2022, Joyce added another impressive milestone to her long list of achievements. The Owls defeated North Texas, 1-0, to clinch Joyce’s 1,000th career win. In doing so, Joyce joined an exclusive club. She is only the 27th coach in NCAA Division I softball history to achieve 1,000 victories and the 43rd coach across all NCAA Divisions. Joyce is only one of 12 active Division I coaches in the 1,000-win club.
Joyce has been the constant throughout the history of the Florida Atlantic softball program as the only head coach in the Owls’ history. She was faced with the task of starting a program from scratch and wasted no time in making the Owls a contender. In year one (1995), FAU went 33-18, resulting in Joyce receiving Atlantic Sun Conference and Palm Beach County Coach of the Year honors.
Shortly thereafter, FAU began a run of dominance in the A-SUN, capturing eight-consecutive conference championships from 1997-2004, as well as making eight-straight NCAA Tournament appearances. Under Joyce’s tutelage, FAU has won 12 conference championships and made 11 total NCAA Tournament appearances. Joyce has won eight coach of the year honors during her established career.
Before transitioning into the coaching ranks, Joyce was already a legend on the diamond and is considered as one of, if not the best, softball pitchers of all-time. She was a 15-time All-America selection during her days at Chapman College. Joyce is the holder of some astounding career statistics in the professional ranks, including a record of 753-42 with 150 no-hitters and 50 perfect games. Joyce is the Raybestos Brakettes’ record holder in most consecutive all-star team selections (18), wins in a season (42), shutouts in a season (38), innings pitched in a game (29 against Perkasie in 1968), career doubles (153) and career triples (67).
The legacy of Joan Joyce extends into the athletics world well beyond softball. From 1996-2014, Joyce was the head coach of the FAU women’s golf team. She developed three A-SUN Golfer of the Year student-athletes, as well as one Freshman Golfer of the Year. Joyce was a member of the LPGA Tour for 19 years (1977-1995) and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for the fewest puts in a round for the PGA and LPGA (17).
A multi-sport superstar, Joyce was also a standout on the hardwood in basketball and volleyball. She was a four-time Women’s Basketball Association All-American and set the national tournament single-game scoring record in 1964 with 67 points. She played on the U.S. National Team in 1965. On the volleyball side, Joyce was a player/coach in the United States Volleyball Association for the Connecticut Clippers.
Joyce was inducted into the FAU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019. Her long list of Hall of Fame memberships includes:
- FAU Athletics Hall of Fame (2019)
- ASUN Hall of Fame (2018)
- National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame (2013)
- Florida Sports Hall of Fame (2012)
- Palm Beach Sports Hall of Fame (2008)
- New England Women’s Sports Hall of Fame (1999)
- International Sports Federation Hall of Fame (1999)
- Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame (1998)
- Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame (1995)
- National ASA Hall of Fame (1983)
- Connecticut ASA Hall of Fame
- Women’s Hall of Fame of Connecticut
- Hank O’Donnell Hall of Fame
- Connecticut Basketball Hall of Fame
- Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame
- Greater Waterbury Hall of Fame
- International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame
Joyce has left an incredible mark on women’s athletics and is creating a legacy that will help define FAU, FAU athletics and collegiate softball for decades to come. Reaching win number 1,000 was just another milestone in the illustrious career of the legend that is Joan Joyce.
Please consider celebrating Coach Joyce’s 1,000th victory by supporting the Future of FAU Softball Fund to help improve the student-athlete experience.
