Spring Hill College (SHC) has named Joe Guthrie as the head coach of the Badgers softball team. Guthrie will be just the third head coach in the history of the SHC softball program that began in 1998. He inherits a team that has enjoyed significant success in its career, especially over the past five seasons when it has built a 197-68 overall record including an 86-18 mark in conference play.
 
"I am thrilled that Joe has agreed to become our next coach," said SHC Director of Athletics Jim Hall. "His recruiting and coaching experience are exceptional and will pay immediate dividends for our softball program. He is a superb tactician and teacher. Our current and future players can look forward to outstanding coaching and program structure. I am confident Joe will build on our very strong base and take the softball program to even greater heights in the years ahead."
 
Guthrie comes to SHC from the Bucknell University softball staff in Lewisburg, Pa., where he spent the 2017 season as a volunteer assistant coach under Bison softball head coach and his wife, Courtnay Foster, assisting in all aspects of offense, outfield play, player development and camps.
 
Guthrie is currently serving as an assistant coach with the Scrap Yard Dawgs from Conroe, Texas, of the National Pro Fastpitch League.
 
Prior to his year at NCAA Division 1 Bucknell, Guthrie spent the previous three seasons as an assistant coach at Penn State University (PSU) of the Big Ten Conference. While at PSU, he oversaw hitters and outfielders as well as serving as the program's recruiting coordinator. During the 2014 to 2016 seasons, Penn State hitters broke over 30 school, Big Ten and NCAA records while their win totals improved from 14 in 2014 to 30 in 2016. PSU finished 36^th nationally in batting average in 2016 as well as third best in the Big Ten conference.
 
Guthrie also assisted in the development of six All-Big Ten selections, three All-Region selections, two All-Big Ten Tournament selections, and two Big Ten Players of the Week while at Penn State. On the recruiting trail, he helped bring in four top 35 classes for the Nittany Lions as the program landed multiple players ranked in the top 100 nationally.
 
"I am extremely honored and humbled to become the next head softball coach at Spring Hill College," Guthrie said. "I would like to thank Jim Hall and [SHC President] Dr. Christopher Puto for allowing me this incredible opportunity. As an Alabama native, it is a dream come true to do what you love at such a well-respected institution. Our goal is to build champions prepared to be 'one of the few' in life. We will accomplish this goal by subscribing daily to the core values of integrity, discipline and gratitude. I can't wait to get started."
 
A nationally-respected clinician and speaker, Guthrie has headlined softball speaking events in Mississippi and Georgia in addition to speaking at the 2013 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Convention in San Antonio, Texas, and the 2017 Pennsylvania Coaches Clinic in Pittsburgh, Pa. He has served on three committees with the NFCA while working baseball and softball camps at the University of Alabama, Arizona State University, University of South Alabama, Troy University, Penn State, University of South Florida, University of Arkansas and Mississippi State University.
 
Prior to his time at PSU, Guthrie spent six seasons as the head softball coach and assistant athletic director at Marion Military Institute (MMI), (NJCAA, Division 1), in Marion, Ala. While at MMI, he was charged with starting the program from scratch and within five seasons led the Lady Tigers to three NJCAA Region Tournament appearances with every player in the program receiving a four-year college softball scholarship offer. Guthrie's teams were also very strong in the classroom at MMI where three times during his tenure the Lady Tigers were named NJCAA Academic Team of the Year. Doing double duty in the classroom, he also taught History at MMI.
 
From 2006 to 2007, Guthrie served as a professional baseball scout in the Miami Marlins organization in Tampa, Fla. Additionally, Guthrie coached high school baseball at the Canterbury School of Florida, (2006-2007), University Prep in Seattle, Wash. (2005-06), and Tuscaloosa Academy (TA) in 2000. The 2000 TA baseball team won 57 straight games and finished as the State Runner-Up.
 
As a baseball player, Guthrie played collegiately at the University of Kentucky, Bevill State Community College and the University of Alabama while playing summer ball in the New York Collegiate League with the Hornell Dodgers and the West Coast League with the Corvallis (Ore.) Knights.
 
From 2002-2005, Guthrie served as an Infantry Officer in the United States Army where he was as a Stryker Rifle Platoon Leader from 2003-2004. From 2004 to 2005, First Lieutenant Guthrie served honorably in combat as an Iraqi Army Liaison Officer in Mosul, Iraq. He earned numerous awards and citations throughout his military journey and finished his career honorably discharged as a captain.
 
Guthrie earned a Bachelor of Arts in American studies from the University of Alabama in 2001 and in 2002 he received a Master of Arts degree in History along with an Army ROTC active duty commission from Jacksonville State University where he was cited as a Distinguished Military Graduate.
 
He is the proud father of seven year-old, Bobby.