Joseph Retires After 29 Seasons as Spartan Head Softball Coach
5/12/2022 9:45:00 AM | Softball
After 29 seasons guiding the Michigan State softball program, Jacquie Joseph has announced her retirement from coaching. She will remain with Spartan athletics, accepting a role in sports administration. Joseph closes her coaching career as the winningest coach in program history.
"While I likely will always identify as a coach, after nearly four decades on the bench, it's time for a new challenge," said Joseph. "I've had the honor to be the head coach for more than 1800 games, and I cannot overstate my gratitude to my players, coaches, administrators and staff for allowing me to live out my professional dream. I'm extremely proud of what my players have accomplished on and off the field. They've provided me with a lifetime of memories.
"I appreciate the confidence that Athletic Director Alan Haller and Deputy AD Jennifer Smith have shown in asking that I contribute to the department in a new manner. I look forward to working toward enhancing the experiences of our student-athletes and coaches from a different perspective."
"Jacquie Joseph has made a career of positively impacting the lives of her student-athletes both on and off the softball field," said MSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Alan Haller. "She has long been a valued voice in the athletic department and I look forward to her contributions in her new role. She truly cares for everyone in Spartan Athletics and is always willing to offer her perspective if it benefits the department. Both of these attributes will serve her well in her new role."
A member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Hall of Fame, Joseph amassed 889 victories in her 34-year head coaching career, including 753 at MSU. A former NFCA president, a former member of the NCAA Softball Committee, a well-respected clinician and an author of two books and five videos dedicated to teaching and coaching the game, Joseph was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.
On four occasions, Joseph guided Michigan State to an NCAA Regional appearance (1997, 1999, 2003 and 2004). In 2004, Joseph's squad captured the Big Ten Tournament title. Her 2018 squad advanced to the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament. Eight of Michigan State's 10 NFCA All-American selections have come during Joseph's tenure, as have 37 of the program's 50 NFCA All-Region selections. Her MSU players have earned All-Big Ten honors 66 times.
Joseph's student-athletes have performed at a high level both on and off the field throughout her entire career, leading to individual accolades in the classroom as well. An impressive nine individuals have earned Academic All-America honors in her tenure, the most of any active coach in the athletic department. Her student-athletes are a regular on the Academic All-Big Ten Team, earning that honor 215 times, while there have been 45 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar distinctions (a 3.7 GPA or better in the academic year) since the award was established prior to the 2009-2010 campaign.
A native of Flint, Michigan, Joseph spent five seasons as head coach at Bowling Green State University prior to accepting the MSU position. Her coaching career also included stints as an assistant at Indiana and Central Michigan.
As a player, Joseph helped lead Central Michigan to three MAC titles and three National Tournament appearances. She was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in the fall of 2013 as a member of the school's 1982 team which advanced to the AIAW World Series.
In the fall of 2002, Joseph was enshrined in the Carman-Ainsworth High School Hall of Fame as a member of the 1980 state championship team, and more recently was inducted as an individual in the fall of 2005.
A leader in the sport, Joseph served a four-year term as a member of the NCAA softball committee from 2002-06, and was president of the NFCA from 1994-98. She has authored two books, Defensive Softball Drills and The Baffled Parent's Guide To Coaching Youth Softball, as well as five videos: Drills For Successful Catching, Hitting Mechanics and Drills, Complete Defense for All Positions, Strength & Conditioning and Defensive Softball Drills.
Joseph graduated from Central Michigan in 1985 with a degree in business administration and earned her master's degree from CMU in business in `87.
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