PRESS RELEASE: MAY 28, 2026

SJR State softball coach Joe Pound steps away from game

Joe Pound is stepping away from the game, leaving behind a legacy of championships and historic gains in his five-year run as head coach for the St. Johns River State College softball team.

Pound expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to transform the Vikings into the respected program it has become, one that includes an NJCAA DII National Championship.

Reflecting on his departure, Pound expressed pride in the program's evolution and gratitude for the support he received.

"The last five years have been truly special. I want to thank all the student-athletes who were part of this journey. Winning a National Championship in 2024 was an achievement many thought could never be realized in Palatka. Our players made that a reality and changed this program forever,” Pound said. “I look forward to following the Vikings as they build upon the foundation we established. Go Vikings!"

Pound also credited the college leadership, stating, "I deeply appreciate President Pickens and the entire administration at SJR State for providing me with this opportunity."

SJR State Athletic Director and former head baseball coach Ross Jones said Pound built the program from the ground up. “Joe Pound elevated the program’s status on and off the field. He brought home the first national championship in college history,” Jones said. “That will never be forgotten.”

SJR State President Joe Pickens echoed these sentiments, praising Pound's transformative legacy. "What Joe Pound accomplished with the softball program is nothing short of miraculous, and we will forever be grateful for the standard of excellence he established," Pickens said. "Our greatest responsibility now is to be good stewards of the program he built as we conduct a nationwide search for a new head coach."

Under Pound’s direction, Vikings softball has achieved significant historic milestones.

In 2024, the SJR State Vikings won its first-ever regular season Sun-Lakes Conference Championship, an FCSAA/NJCAA Region 8 and South District Championship under softball head coach Joe Pound, finishing the season with 55 wins and 79 home runs, winning the NJCAA DII National Championship title in the first trip to the World Series in school history.

In 2025, the Vikings repeated as the Sun-Lakes Conference Champions, FCSAA/NJCAA Region 8 and South District Champions and made their second trip to the NJCAA World Series, where they placed third and finished the season with a record 56 wins.

In 2026, the Vikings claimed their 3rd consecutive Sun-Lakes Conference Championship, FCSAA/NJCAA Region 8 and South District Championships and made their third trip to the NJCAA World Series, where they ended their season (44-24).

Joe Pound