Compton will retire after 23 seasons with the GamecocksBy Matt Long
Posted April 19, 2010, 10:51 AM
After her team won its first SEC game of the season Saturday, South Carolina softball coach Joyce Compton told gathered students and alumni that she would be retiring at season's end.
"I think it's time," Compton said, "I've been doing this for 25 years."
Compton took the helm of the softball program in 1987 and took it to the College World Series only two years later, winning her national Coach of the Year honors in 1989. Her 1,045 victories at South Carolina puts her among the career leaders in coaching wins. She was also inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2002.
Compton played at Trenton State College (now the College of New Jersey) from 1973-75, helping lead the team to three straight national championships. After playing semi-professionally for several years, Compton eventually became the head coach at the University of Missouri in 1983. Four years later, she was hired at South Carolina.
She has three College World Series and 15 NCAA Regional appearances on her resume.
She announced her decision to former players gathered for the annual Alumni Weekend.
Compton's team has struggled as of late, going 21-26 last season and stumbling to 11-33 so far in 2010.
