How did Longtime Softball Coach Joan Joyce Die at 81?

2 years ago

Coach Joan Joyce’s cause of death has not been announced at this time but her death has been confirmed by FAU President John Kelly. May she rest in peace.

On Sunday, March 27, 2022, it was announced that longtime softball coach Joyce passed away aged 81.

“This is a terribly sad loss for the FAU family. Joan was a true sports legend, and we are grateful for the 28 years she spent here, modeling the best in personal and professional behavior for our student-athletes,” John Kelly said in a statement, per Palm Beach Post.

How did Longtime Softball Coach Joan Joyce Die at 81? — Image Source: Connecticut Post

“Joan’s legacy will live on at the university and across the country, through the generations of young women she inspired to play – and excel at – softball and golf.”

“We are very saddened to learn of Coach Joyce’s passing,” FAU Vice President and Director of Athletics Brian White added.

He continued: “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.”

Here in Us day News, we try to prepare the latest and most trusted news regarding this heartbreaking incident. So if you are keen to know more, keep in touch with us. In the following, we will talk more about Joan Joyce’s career.

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What was Joan Joyce’s Cause of Death?

Joan Joyce passed away on Saturday, March 26, 2022. US day News is working to provide more information and collect the latest updates surrounding Joan Joyce’s cause of death, so stay up with us.

Joan Joyce was born on August 18, 1940. She was known as the softball coach at Florida Atlantic University, following a record-setting career as a softball player for the Raybestos Brakettes and the Orange Lionettes.

The athlete also had set records on the LPGA Tour as a golfer and on the USA women’s national basketball team. She was a player and coach for the Connecticut Clippersvolleyball team.

Joan was both the softball and golf coach at Florida Atlantic University. From 1996 through 2014, she was in charge of the FAU women’s golf team.

She also was a member of the LPGA Tour for 20 years, joining the Gunness Book of World Records as the all-time holder in golf for “Fewest Putts in a Round for the LPGA or PGA.”

Prior to her coaching career, Joan was best known as one of the greatest pitchers in softball history.

She is a member of 20 different Halls of Fame and threw over 150 no-hitters during her career. Joan was a 15-time All-American who played on four separate World Series teams.

Joyce also played volleyball and basketball, becoming a four-time Women’s Basketball Association All-American. Joan coached and played for the Connecticut Clippers, part of the United States Volleyball Association.

From 1954 through 1964, she played softball for the Brakettes. She rejoined the team in 1967, after a brief stint with the Lionettes.

Prior to her death, Joan spent 28 years at FAU and led the team to an overall record of 1002-674-1 during her time there. The athlete is survived by her siblings and their children.

In 1983, Joan was officially inducted into the National Softball Hall of Fame and became a member of many more, including:

International Softball Federation Hall of Fame
Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame
Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame
Hank O’Donnell Hall of Fame
Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame
Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame
International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame
Greater Waterbury Hall of Fame

She along with Dennis Murphy, Billie Jean King, and Jim Jorgensen were co-founders of the Women’s Professional Softball League in 1976. She was the coach and part-owner of the Connecticut Falcons team, which won the Championship all four years of the league’s history.

As of 2021, her Owls team has eleven conference championships and 985 victories. In Joan’s first two seasons, the Owls were Atlantic Sun Conference runners-up and won the next eight championships.

The Owls took second in 2005, then won again in 2006. They won the Sun Belt Conference championship in 2007, and then the Conference USA championship in 2016.

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Reactions to Joan Joyce’s Death

After the sad news of Joan Joyce’s was revealed, her friends and teammates quickly flooded social media with tribute messages. Many fans also took to Twitter to pay Pigonant tributes to her.

Tim Walton took to Twitter to pay tribute to Joyce, writing: “Today we mourn one of the game’s greatest person/player/coach of all time, Joan Joyce @FAUSoftball You left the game better than you found it. Thank you for all you did for everyone you met. Your legacy will be felt forever. RIP Joan!”

Willie Taggart tweeted: “The FAU Family is saddened by the news of the passing of Joan Joyce. A pioneer and legend in women athletics. Coach, you lived a life of distinction, and you will always be remembered by your famous quote, “I wouldn’t let anybody beat me.”Thank you, Coach Joyce.

“Our game lost a legend today, and the world lost an amazing woman. Joan Joyce was a trailblazer who’s impact on the game of softball will stand the test of time. Our thoughts are with the @FAUSoftball community and her family during this difficult time. #RIPJoan,” 7Innings Podcast’s official Twitter account wrote.

“Absolutely gutted to hear about the loss of long-time FAU softball coach Joan Joyce. She had just captured her 1000th win along with a laundry list of other accomplishments. Won’t be another one like her again,” a social media user wrote.

“Ladies, we have lost one if the legends. She led the way for what we all have in this great game. Keep her family in your thoughts. Better yet, read about her and think about what you can do to further her legacy,” BRHS Softball tweeted.

“Joan Joyce passed away today. If you don’t know who she is, Google her. An absolutely phenomenal female athlete long before Title IX opened the doors to young girls. She was still coaching at Florida Atlantic this spring,” one fan wrote.

Joey Knight wrote: “Joan Joyce was/is a south Florida icon. Played on the @usabasketball women’s team, competed on the @LPGA, and won around 1,000 games as @FAUSoftball coach.

Another fan wrote: “So sad to hear of the passing of the legendary Joan Joyce..she was a trailblazer, a hero of women’s sports not to mention the sheer number of people whose lives she affected and influenced. RIP.”

“Coach Joan Joyce was a trailblazer. Not many people, let alone softball legends, can say they struck out Ted Williams. She was an amazing coach and woman who always remained committed to her student-athletes and inspired them to be great. We’ll miss her,” someone wrote on Twitter.

Another user wrote: “Send some thoughts and prayers to @FAUSoftball today. The loss of Joan Joyce is irreplaceable. She was an absolute legend and paved the way for so many women in this sport. Rest In Peace, Coach. Play all the sports up there.”

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