PITTSBURG, Kan. (KOAM) - There's a new head coach for Gorillas softball. PSU announced the hiring of Josh Barnes on Friday.
Barnes replaces former head coach Jenny Fuller, who was introduced as the new head coach at NCAA Division I Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La., Wednesday (July 24). Fuller departed after three seasons as the Gorillas mentor, including a program-best 53-8 record and an NCAA Division II National Tournament appearance this past spring.
For the past two seasons, Barnes served as head coach at NJCAA Crowder College in Neosho, Mo.
"We are excited to have Josh join Gorilla Nation and the Pittsburg community as our head softball coach," Johnson said. "We wish Jenny and her family all the best with this new opportunity in Louisiana. In today's college environment it was extremely important for us to move swiftly in addressing our head coach position for the sake of our student-athletes as well as our program's continued growth moving forward.
"Josh has enjoyed tremendous success at the NJCAA level the past two years practically in our back yard at Crowder, so it didn't take any time to target him to lead our program moving forward. He is a charismatic leader and a tireless recruiter. I think our student-athletes, staff and the community will quickly embrace Josh and his family."
According to PSU, Barnes compiled an 89-37 (.706) record in two seasons at Crowder and a 221-161-1 (.578) career mark in seven seasons as an NJCAA head coach. His coaching tenure includes previous stops at McCook Community College (2017-19) and Angelina College (2020-22). Barnes guided the Roughriders to consecutive Region 16 Tournament Champions the past two seasons (2023-24), posting a 45-16 record in 2023 and a 44-21 mark this past spring.
"My family and I are excited to join the Pittsburg community and represent Pittsburg State University," Barnes said. "Growing up in Kansas, Pitt State has always been a place and community I admired. I am thankful for the opportunity given to me by Athletic Director Jim Johnson and President Dan Shipp to lead the softball team. I look forward to continuing the success established by Jenny, and Brad (Fuller), centered around great culture and hard work!"
Barnes went to Crowder College from Angelina College (NJCAA D1) in Texas. In 2022, he guided Angelina to a 38-16 record, after the school suspended sports for the 2020-2021 school year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Roadrunners finished second in the Region 14 South Conference in 2022.
Prior to his time at Angelina College, Barnes coached three seasons at McCook Community College (NJCAA D1) in Nebraska from 2017-19 where his team finished Runner-Up in the Region 9 (NJCAA D1) Tournament in 2019.
Barnes earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, Kan., and a master's degree in sports management from the University of Central Missouri in 2018. He played baseball at USM from 2008-11, earning an NAIA Rawlings Gold Glove Award in 2011.
Josh and his wife, Lani, have a son, Jordy (6), and a daughter, Charli (3).
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