Joan Joyce is a name that will be talked about in the softball world, as well as the athletic world, for decades to come. The longtime head FAU softball coach has just about done it all – on the diamond, on the courts, on the golf course, in the bowling alley – you name it, she has done it.
Recently, Joyce added another tremendous milestone to her legendary career. On March 18, 2022, the Owls clinched Joyce’s 1,000th career win. In doing so, Joyce joined an exclusive club. She is only the 27th NCAA Division I coach to reach the thousand-win plateau and the 43rd across all divisions. Joyce is now one of just 12 active coaches with 1,000 wins.
Joyce Pitching for the Raybestos Brakettes
Joyce was a legend well before her coaching days, and is considered as one of, if not the best, pitchers of all-time. The dominant Joyce is a member of 20 Halls of Fame, and she is the holder of some staggering career statistics. She won 753 games in the circle for the Raybestos Brakettes and threw 150 no-hitters as well as 50 perfect games. A 15-time All-American, Joyce was a member of four World Series teams.
After about 10 minutes, he threw the bat down on the ground and said, ‘I can’t hit this.’
Joan Joyce with Ted Williams
Amongst all of Joyce’s accomplishments, two stand out in particular. Joyce is most famous for striking out a couple of the best baseball hitters of all-time: Ted Williams and Hank Aaron.
Joyce was matched up with Williams on an August night in her hometown of Waterbury, Connecticut. In front of a crowd of 17,000 people, against the only hitter in baseball history to hit .400 or better, at only 20 years old, Joyce came out on top. She even got Williams to slam his bat down in frustration after striking out.
Her pitching was so dominant, even the best hitters ever to walk this Earth were astounded.
The legacy of Joyce extends into the athletics world well beyond softball, as she is a member of 20 Halls Of Fame, including:
- 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 at the 2018 Owlspys
Joyce’s name is found in many record books, including the most famous one, the Guinness Book of World Records. Joyce is listed as the all-time record holder in golf for fewest putts in a round (17) for the LPGA and PGA. She was a 19-year member of the LPGA Tour from 1977-95. She served FAU as the head women’s golf coach from 1996-2014.
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 has been the constant throughout the history of the Florida Atlantic softball program as the only head coach for the Owls. She was faced with the task of starting a program from scratch and wasted no time in making FAU 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.
Joyce has built a legacy that will impact FAU, the softball world and the sports world for decades to come. She will go down as one of the greatest athletes and one of the most influential figures in sports history.
