Jacquie Joseph
Head Coach - Michigan State
Bio: Jacquie Joseph has instilled core values in the Michigan State softball program, developing student-athletes that are successful on the field, in the classroom and in the community. Under Joseph's leadership, these values allow her players to not only become successful during their college career, but in their future endeavors as well. As the records indicate, Joseph's impact as a mentor and coach has been felt for years in the program she has built into one of the most competitive in the Big Ten Conference.
Since taking over the Spartan program in 1994, the head coach has become the winningest coach in program history, guiding MSU to a 588-591-1 record and four NCAA Regional appearances. In addition, Joseph eclipsed the 700-win plateau in 2013, with a 724-723-1 career mark to her credit (21 seasons at MSU, and five at Bowling Green).
When Joseph was named the fifth head coach in school history, she immediately raised the expectations for the program. MSU has three 40-win campaigns and nine 30-win seasons, including four in the past nine years.
Joseph's players have performed at a high level her entire career, leading to individual accolades as well as team success. She has coached six All-Americans and her players have earned All-Big Ten honors 44 times and All-Great Lakes Region honors 30 times. In the classroom, an impressive seven student-athletes have been named Academic All-America in her tenure, the most of any active coach in the Michigan State Athletics Department. Her players are a regular on the Academic All-Big Ten Team, earning conference honors more than 100 times.
The Spartans claimed the program's first-ever Big Ten Tournament title in 2004 with a tournament sweep of host Michigan, Northwestern and Illinois. In addition to the league tournament title, the three wins garnered State its second straight appearance in an NCAA Regional, which marked the first time in MSU history the softball team made consecutive appearances in NCAA postseason play.
Prior to accepting the MSU position, the Flint, Mich., native spent five seasons as the head coach at Bowling Green State University. During her tenure, the Falcons compiled a record of 136-133, including a 71-34 mark in her last two seasons. Joseph guided Bowling Green to a 37-16 record and a runner-up finish in the Mid-American Conference in 1992, setting a school record for overall wins.
During her playing career, Joseph led Central Michigan to three MAC titles and three National Tournament appearances. She was a two-time First-Team All-MAC selection. 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. 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 compiled a 42-9 regular-season record and advanced to the AIAW World Series.
The Spartan mentor is a veteran clinician and 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.
