Joan Joyce, a standout softball player, golfer, and coach, died on March 26, 2022. She was 81 years old.

Of her many accolades, Joyce is best known as the only coach in Florida Atlantic University’s 28-year history and for once striking out Boston Red Sox great Ted Williams.

“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,” FAU President John Kelly said. “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.”

Born August 18, 1940, in Waterbury, Connecticut, Joyce played softball from ’54 to ’76 for the Raybestos Brakettes in Connecticut and the Orange Lionettes of Orange, California. During this time, she set several records, including most consecutive all-star team selections (18), was a National Tournament MVP 8 times, most shutouts in a season (38), most innings pitched in a game (29), Brakettes team batting champ 6 times, and had the highest batting average at .467. It was during a 1961 exhibition game in Waterbury, CT, that she struck out Williams.

As a softball coach, she recently secured FAU’s 1,000th win during the 2022 season and has been named conference coach of the year eight times. Her career record was 1,002 wins, 674 losses, and 1 tie, and she led the FAU Owls to 11 NCAA postseason tournaments.

Joyce spent 19 years on the LPGA Tour from ’77 to ’94, placing sixth in tournaments held in ’81, ’82, and ’84. She has the record for lowest number of putts (17) in a single LPGA round, which she set in ’82. While coaching FAU’s softball team, she also coached the school’s women’s golf team from ’96 to 2014.

Not stopping at two sports, Joyce was also a dynamo in volleyball and basketball. She played and coached in the US Volleyball Association with the Connecticut Clippers, competing in four national tournaments and was chosen for the All-East Regional team. In basketball, she was on the national team in ’64 and ’65, was a four-time Women’s Basketball Association All-American, and set a national tournament record for scoring 67 points in a single game.

Joyce was inducted into the National Softball Hall of Fame in ’83 and the International Softball Federation Hall of Fame in ’99.