Joyce O’Donnell – a coaching legend in Western Massachusetts and beyond – guided the Westfield State softball team to nearly 200 victories and five postseason tournament berths from 1980-92. 

Her 13-year stint is the longest for a women’s coach at Westfield State. She guided the Owls to two conference championships, three NCAA Tournament berths, including a third place in the 1982 national championships, and three ECAC postseason tournaments. Westfield captured the 1987 ECAC championship and was runner-up in 1988. Her career record is 192-163. 

O’Donnell also made a name for herself as a player, coach, and administrator on the semi-professional level. During the summer months from 1967-1987, the Holyoke native coached the talented Westfield Whips, who participated in two national tournaments. O’Donnell also coached a team touring in Venezuela in 1985, and was the head coach at Westfield High School from 1974-79. The Bombers captured the Western Mass. championship in 1974 and were Valley League champs in 1978. 

The highly respected mentor served from 1976-86 as president of the 12-team New England semi-pro league, and as commissioner of women’s softball for Massachusetts. She served on the NCAA national team selection committee from 1985-87. 

In 1992 O’Donnell was inducted into the New Agenda Northeast Hall of Fame, an organization that promotes the advancing role of women in sports. She was one of the first female umpires in Western Massachusetts, umpiring men’s and women’s softball as well as college and tournament games. 

O’Donnell attended Holyoke Community College and graduated from Jacksonville State in Alabama. She received her master’s degree from Westfield State. 

O’Donnell was a physical education instructor for 32 years and a vice-principal for five years at Westfield High School before retiring in 2002. She has been a long-time Southwick resident who now spends the winter months in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.