Longtime MSU Softball Coach Retires

Jacquie Joseph, who has been the head softball coach at Michigan State University for the last 29 seasons, announced her retirement from coaching on Thursday morning.

According to the school, Joseph will stay on in the athletic department in an administrative role.

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Coach Joseph won nearly 900 games in her 34 years of coaching (she coached at Bowling Green State University for the five years previous to arriving in East Lansing).

She played softball at Central Michigan as a collegian, and was an assistant at CMU and Indiana before taking the Bowling Green job in 1989.

The 2022 softball season for MSU ended on Wednesday night with a 7-1 loss to Maryland in the Big Ten Softball Tournament at Secchia Stadium in East Lansing.  The Spartans were 24-28 this season.

Coach Joseph made these comments on Thursday morning about her retirement:

"While I likely will always identify as a coach, after nearly four decades on the bench, it's time for a new challenge, 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.

She continues:  "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."

Joseph led the Spartans to four appearances in the NCAA Tournament during her career.  And the Spartans won the Big Ten Tournament title in 2004.