From the Radford Press Release: "Pound is coming off the heels of an impressive five-year run at St. Johns River State College where he took a program that previously had just one winning season to achieving a national championship and three College World Series appearances. It took just three seasons for Pound to rebuild the program, winning the NJCAA Division II Softball National Championship in 2024 where the team finished with a 55-15 record and saw four players named All-Americans." Interestingly, he resigned from St. Johns River State at the end of May. At that time, St. John's Athletic Director commented that Pound "built the program from the ground up," and went on to say that “Joe Pound elevated the program’s status on and off the field. He brought home the first national championship in college history. That will never be forgotten.” D1 Softball noted that "In his five-year tenure at the helm of the Vikings’ program, Pound recorded a 196-125 overall record with a 93-31 conference showing. He led the program to three consecutive NJCAA D2 World Series appearances, including the national title in 2024." Good luck to him at Radford (except when they play the Hokies). ** Edited by VTChip at 7/24/2026, 3:15:14 PM

where he was. Were there any to compare to Radford?

Academics should not be an obstacle to him.

. . . admission but with 89% acceptance rate academics will not be a barrier. What is a bit worrisome is his statement about recruiting. It won't be any easier at Radford. ** Edited by MidloHokie at 7/25/2026, 7:48:13 AM

That you would not see that in the headlines and if so you would be shocked like himself.

college. Easy choice

"Pound, 52, spent the past five seasons as the coach of St. Johns River State (Junior) College in Florida. He stepped down from that job two months ago, telling the Palatka Daily Times at the time that "It's time for someone younger to take over. It is a very difficult grind with coaching and recruiting all year. I put a whole lot into it and I can’t give 100% right now." Pound succeeds Kevin ***an, who stepped down last month to become the associate head coach at Liberty University. "This was something that wasn’t planned when I left St. Johns, but I feel it’s a good opportunity," Pound told the Palatka Daily Times on Friday.

From the linked story from the Palatka Daily News: Headline: "On second thought" Well, retirement didn’t last long. Over two months after officially stepping down as the St. Johns River State College softball coach and saying he needed a break and was exhausted, Joe Pound found himself an employed softball coach again, this time on the NCAA Division I level. Pound was officially named the new head softball coach at Radford University in Virginia on Friday, ending that short break from coaching and taking a softball coaching job that even he was surprised that came upon him. “Obviously, I had a little time off. It was just something that came about,” Pound said. While most of the country was spending time enjoying the nation’s 250th birthday on July 4, Pound answered a phone call he was least expecting to get. It was from longtime Radford athletic director Robert Lineburg, who was given Pound’s name, according to the coach, by Gulf Coast State College softball mentor Scot Thomas. “(Lineburg) asked if I was interested in the opportunity (to coach Radford),” Pound said. “I said, ‘Yes.’ I flew up to Radford on July 5, then went and met with him the next day. I came back and we had a few more conversations and we worked it out.” After a third straight trip to the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II World Series in May, Pound tendered his resignation to St. Johns River athletic director Ross Jones. Easily the most successful coach in the program’s long fastpitch history, Pound, the coach of the Vikings’ first-ever national championship in 2024 in Spartanburg, South Carolina, said he was willing to take time off from coaching, though he said other offers did come and go in the time after resigning. “Really, this is a new opportunity … a different challenge, a different level, a new location,” Pound said. “I enjoy challenges. This was something that wasn’t planned when I left St. Johns, but I feel it’s a good opportunity and I’m looking forward to it.” Pound, a 1992 Crescent City High School graduate and star player in football and baseball, the latter sport he played at the University of North Florida, and who said has never left the state of Florida for any coaching position or job for that matter, heads to Radford, located 30 minutes from Virginia Tech University, with a career 196-125 mark in five years in charge, including three straight Sun-Lakes Conference, two straight Region 8 tournament crowns and three straight Division II South Region titles. The Vikings were 155-50 in the last three years and 76-12 in conference play during that time. Recently, SJR State hired Lee Kuyrkendall as its new softball coach. Pound said he is putting a coaching staff together but said it would not include his assistant the last two years, Callie Jones, who has moved back to coach at her alma mater, Jacksonville Episcopal School. Pound replaces another Florida-based coach with success, Kevin ***an. ***an, a former NFL linebacker who coached at Dunnellon High School and Central Florida College to softball titles, finished out a two-year run as Radford’s coach before moving on to Liberty University, where he will coach next season. Radford finished 24-27 this past season. Though he did not make it official, Pound said some of his Vikings players might be transferring to Radford for next season, but nothing, he said, was official. “I’m not a cold-weather fan, so my biggest adjustment is going to be a wardrobe,” joked Pound, who signed a three-year contract to coach the Highlanders, who play in the Big South Conference. “But they have a very nice facility and have put money into it. It’s an all-turf field they just put in and they have a big hitting facility with four cages. I looked at the field, and it’s lined and ready to go right now. “This is the right opportunity and I accept the challenge,” he added.