Joe Guthrie - Softball Coach

Joe Guthrie

Title:
Associate Head Coach
Email:
guthrie9@uab.edu
Phone:
975-7800

As of May 2021
Record at UAB: 31-19, 15-5 C-USA (1)

Joe Guthrie will enter his second season at the helm of the Blazers for the 2021-22 season. Guthrie was named the fourth head coach in program history on July 9, 2020. In his first season, Guthrie propelled UAB to its first C-USA Championship appearance since 2016.

2021 Highlights:

Guided the Blazers to the highest program winning percentage (.620) since 2015
Coached the Blazers to the second-best conference winning percentage in program history (.750) and highest since 2006
Tied program record of five All-Conference Team selections, including a program-first four first-team selections (Sierra Frazier, JoJo Readeaux, Jenna Olszewski and Amy Woodham)
Set the record for most home game victories in a season at Mary Bowers Field (20)
Led UAB to its third-ever C-USA Championship title game appearance
Conference USA regular season runner-up
Run-ruled Ole Miss in five innings 13-5, UAB's first win over an SEC team since 2016
First 30-win season since 2015

As an Assistant/Associate Head Coach (2018-2020)
Guthrie was originally hired as an assistant for the Blazers in July of 2018 and promoted to Associate Head Coach in January of 2020.

In his first two seasons with the Blazers he worked heavily with the defense which ranked third in Conference USA in 2020 before the season was cut short due to COVID-19. The Blazers led C-USA in chances and putouts and finished second in assists. In 2019 the Blazers defense tied for second in C-USA in double plays with 26, ranking 11^th in the nation in double plays per game (0.52). Guthrie also contributed to base running, hitting and recruiting for the UAB program.

He previously served as an assistant coach at Louisiana, spending the 2018 season with the Ragin' Cajuns. While there, Louisiana went 41-16, finishing second in the Sun Belt during the regular season and were runners-up in conference championship. Guthrie helped guide Louisiana to its 19th straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

Prior to Louisiana, Guthrie spent time in the National Pro Fastpitch League with the Scrapyard Dogs in 2017. Guthrie served as a volunteer assistant at Bucknell during the 2017 season after two years as an assistant coach at Penn State (2014-16). At Penn State, the Nittany Lions broke over 30 records as he coached six All-Big Ten selections, three All-Region selections and two players who earned All-Big Ten Tournament selections.

Guthrie spent six seasons as the head softball coach and assistant athletics director at Marion Military Institute in Marion, Ala. and also served as a scout in the Miami Marlins organization from 2006-07.