BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic University Vice President/Director of Athletics Brian White has announced Chan Walker as interim head softball coach. The announcement comes after the passing of longtime Owls’ head coach Joan Joyce this past Saturday.
Walker has been an integral part of the FAU softball program throughout its history and has been a member of the Owls’ coaching staff for 21 years. In August of 2018, she was elevated to the role of associate head coach. She was an Owl student-athlete as a player under Joyce on the 1995 and 1996 teams, the first two teams in the history of the program.
Walker, a 1997 FAU graduate, has played an important role in building the FAU Softball program. She has helped guide FAU to eight conference championships and seven NCAA Division I Tournament appearances.
“While I’m extremely honored to lead this team as the interim coach, I look at this entire season as Coach Joyce’s 28th season,” Walker said. “This team will take the field, compete and play hard for the rest of the season the way she would have expected, in honor of Coach Joyce.”
“Coach Walker has been an integral part of the FAU Softball from the beginning. We know how important this program and this team are to her,” White said. “We’re very proud of how Chan, the staff and the student-athletes have handled a very difficult situation this season with the passing of Coach Joyce. We look forward to seeing our team honor Coach Joyce through their determination and perseverance throughout the rest of the season.”
The Owls are currently 18-17 on the season with a 6-3 record in Conference USA play. FAU is in first place in the Conference USA East Division. The Owls face Middle Tennessee State in a three-game Conference USA series this weekend in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Following the conclusion of the 2022 season, FAU Athletics will conduct a national search to name the next head coach of the Owls’ softball program.
FAU Athletics will announce details of a Celebration of Life for Joan Joyce in the coming weeks.
