Arizona Western’s Joel Prickett picks up 800th career win

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - Arizona Western College softball head coach Joel Prickett added another remarkable accomplishment to an already decorated career this season, earning his 800th career victory.

Prickett, who has been a head coach for 23 seasons, reached the milestone during Arizona Western's run at the NJCAA National Championship in his second season as the team's skipper.

While the achievement carries significant prestige, the veteran coach views it as a reflection of something much larger than a number in the win column.

"You do anything long enough, eventually...the numbers are gonna creep up there. It's a testament to longevity, and hard work, and kids buying in, and kids believing in you and believing in your program," Prickett said.

The milestone was on Prickett's radar before the season began. After learning he was sitting at 760 career wins entering the year, he realized the mark was within reach if the Matadors could put together another successful campaign.

Reaching 40 victories in a season is no easy feat, but Arizona Western's second consecutive regional championship provided the opportunity. The Matadors ultimately made a deep enough postseason run, allowing Prickett to secure win number 800 on the national stage.

"It's a neat story to have [to] get any milestone win at the national tournament, but the thing that we love and that I love is the relationships and the kids," Prickett said.

Arizona Western's success extended well beyond the milestone victory. The Matadors advanced farther in the national tournament than any Arizona Western softball team since the turn of the century, a result that came as no surprise to athletic director Jerry Smith.

"He had great success at Odessa College and was there for several years. Obviously, the 800 victories that he's achieved now, that's a milestone in the coaching world. So we're extremely proud of him for that and what he's done for Arizona Western College softball," Smith said.

Prickett arrived in Yuma from Cisco, Texas in 2024, embracing the opportunity to lead a program with championship expectations. The move proved to be an ideal fit for both coach and school.

"Coming out here gave me the opportunity to go after the big fish...It's expected from Jerry and our admins, and they support us, so well here. It was a no brainer to pull the trigger and come out here," Prickett said.

Smith said Prickett's competitive mindset and high standards helped him fit seamlessly into Arizona Western's athletic culture.

"He fits really well with our coaches because he has a high standard for himself, and for his team. That carries over from team-to-team," Smith said.

Although the winning has remained consistent throughout his tenure, Prickett admits his coaching style has evolved over the years.

"I'm not as gruff as I used to be when I was younger. I used to be pretty rough on them, and I probably need to be a little rougher sometimes," Prickett said.

Despite those changes, the foundation of his coaching philosophy remains unchanged. For Prickett, success continues to be rooted in the relationships he builds with his players.

"I still think it's all about relationships. I think you're gonna, you're gonna get the most out of a kid when they wanna play for you, instead of in spite of you," Prickett said.

That approach has helped guide Arizona Western softball to sustained success for more than two decades and has propelled Prickett to one of the sport's most impressive milestones.

With 800 victories now to his name, the Matadors coach shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.