Breaking News: Florida Atlantic Head Coach Joan Joyce Has Passed Away

Florida Atlantic head coach Joan Joyce has passed away, the school announced on Sunday morning.

“We are very saddened to learn of Coach Joyce’s passing,” FAU athletic director Brian White said in a statement. “Joan was one of the pillars that FAU Athletics was built upon. She was a legend in many ways and leaves a legacy at FAU and beyond that is unmatched. We are forever grateful for her nearly three decades of service to FAU and her student-athletes.”

Joyce had won her 1,000th game as head coach just last week, against North Texas. She was in her 28th year as the head coach at FAU and owned a career record of 1002-674-1 during her time leading the program. She was an 8-time conference Coach of the Year and led the Owls to 11 NCAA tournament appearances during her tenure.

A tremendously accomplished player prior to her coaching career, Joyce was inducted into including 20 Halls of Fame, earned All-America recognitions in multiple sports, and earned inclusion in the Guinness Book of World Records. In 1961, she performed perhaps her most recognizable feat when she struck out Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Ted Williams in front of a crowd of 17,000.

Joan Joyce was 81 years old and leaves a remarkable legacy and an indelible impact on the game of softball.