Joe Arnold
Encyclopedia
Joseph A. "Joe" Arnold is a former American college and professional baseball
coach. During his twenty-four seasons as a head coach, Arnold led the college baseball teams at Florida Southern College
, the University of Florida
, and Polk State College, and also served as the manager of two Class A minor league teams within the New York Yankees
organization.
. He attended Lake Worth High School
in Lake Worth, Florida
, where he was a pitcher
for the Lake Worth Trojans high school baseball team.
in Tempe, Arizona
, where he played for the Arizona State Sun Devils baseball team in 1968.
Following the 1968 college season, the Houston Astros
selected Arnold in the third round (fifty-fifth pick overall) of the 1968 MLB Draft. He appeared in 114 games while playing for four different Class A affiliates of the Astros in 1968 and 1969; in two seasons, he batted .221 and won his only appearance as a pitcher.
. In seven season, he led the Mocs baseball team to an overall win-loss record of 316–69 (.821), four Sunshine State Conference
(SSC) championships (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983), six consecutive appearances in the Division II College World Series
, two Division II national championships (1978, 1981) and two national second-place finishes (1979, 1982).
Arnold was the head coach of the Florida Gators baseball
team at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida
, from 1984 to 1994. In eleven seasons, Arnold coached the Gators to an overall win-loss record of 434–244–2 (.640), two Southeastern Conference
(SEC) championships (1984, 1988), three SEC tournament titles (1984, 1988, 1991), seven appearances in the Division I baseball tournament, and the program's first two appearances in the College World Series
(1988
, 1991
). He was twice chosen by his fellow coaches as the SEC Coach of the Year (1984, 1988).
Arnold managed the Oneonta Yankees in 1997 and 1998, and the Staten Island Yankees
in 1999 and 2000; both teams were the Yankees affiliates in the Class A New York–Penn League. In four seasons managing Single-A baseball, he compiled a record of 179–119 (.601), his Yankees teams finished first or second in the standings three of four years, and won the league championship twice. Thereafter, he continued as the director of East Coast scouting for the parent New York Yankees
.
Not ready to retire, Arnold became the head coach of his third college baseball team in 2007, accepting the opportunity to coach the Polk State Vikings of Polk State College in Winter Haven, Florida
. He coached the Vikings for four seasons, until heath concerns forced him to step down after the 2010 season.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
coach. During his twenty-four seasons as a head coach, Arnold led the college baseball teams at Florida Southern College
Florida Southern College
Florida Southern College is a private college located in Lakeland, Florida, United States. It was selected by U.S...
, the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, and Polk State College, and also served as the manager of two Class A minor league teams within the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
organization.
Early years
Arnold was born in Daytona Beach, FloridaDaytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, USA. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city has a population of 64,211. Daytona Beach is a principal city of the Deltona – Daytona Beach – Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which the census bureau estimated had...
. He attended Lake Worth High School
Lake Worth Community High School
Lake Worth Community High School is a high school located in Lake Worth, Florida. Established in 1922 as Lake Worth High School, it is currently one of Palm Beach County's largest schools...
in Lake Worth, Florida
Lake Worth, Florida
Lake Worth is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, which takes its name from the body of water along its eastern border, originally called "Lake Worth", and now generally known as the Lake Worth Lagoon. The lake itself was named for General William J. Worth, who led U.S. forces during the last...
, where he was a pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
for the Lake Worth Trojans high school baseball team.
Playing career
He attended Miami-Dade Community College, where he was a standout pitcher for the MDCC baseball team, and was recognized as a junior college All-American in 1966 and 1967. After he exhausted his junior college eligibility, he transferred to Arizona State UniversityArizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
in Tempe, Arizona
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...
, where he played for the Arizona State Sun Devils baseball team in 1968.
Following the 1968 college season, the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
selected Arnold in the third round (fifty-fifth pick overall) of the 1968 MLB Draft. He appeared in 114 games while playing for four different Class A affiliates of the Astros in 1968 and 1969; in two seasons, he batted .221 and won his only appearance as a pitcher.
Coaching career
From 1977 to 1983, Arnold was the head coach of the Florida Southern Moccasins baseball team of Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FloridaLakeland, Florida
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
. In seven season, he led the Mocs baseball team to an overall win-loss record of 316–69 (.821), four Sunshine State Conference
Sunshine State Conference
The Sunshine State Conference was originally formed in 1975 as an NCAA Division II men's basketball conference. It has since expanded to sponsor championships in 14 sports, including men's and women's basketball, baseball, men's and women's golf, women's rowing, men's and women's soccer, softball,...
(SSC) championships (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983), six consecutive appearances in the Division II College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
, two Division II national championships (1978, 1981) and two national second-place finishes (1979, 1982).
Arnold was the head coach of the Florida Gators baseball
Florida Gators baseball
The Florida Gators baseball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of baseball. The Florida Gators compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletics Association , and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference . They play their home games in Alfred A...
team at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, from 1984 to 1994. In eleven seasons, Arnold coached the Gators to an overall win-loss record of 434–244–2 (.640), two Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(SEC) championships (1984, 1988), three SEC tournament titles (1984, 1988, 1991), seven appearances in the Division I baseball tournament, and the program's first two appearances in the College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
(1988
1988 College World Series
The 1988 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 3 to June 11. The forty-second tournament's champion was Stanford University coached by Mark Marquess...
, 1991
1991 College World Series
The 1991 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from May 31 to June 8. The forty-fifth tournament's champion was Louisiana State University, coached by Skip Bertman. The Most Outstanding Player was Gary Hymel of Louisiana State University...
). He was twice chosen by his fellow coaches as the SEC Coach of the Year (1984, 1988).
Arnold managed the Oneonta Yankees in 1997 and 1998, and the Staten Island Yankees
Staten Island Yankees
The Staten Island Yankees are a minor league baseball team, located in the New York City borough of Staten Island. Nicknamed the "Baby Bombers," the Yankees are a Short-Season A classification affiliate of the New York Yankees and play in the New York - Penn League at Richmond County Bank Ballpark...
in 1999 and 2000; both teams were the Yankees affiliates in the Class A New York–Penn League. In four seasons managing Single-A baseball, he compiled a record of 179–119 (.601), his Yankees teams finished first or second in the standings three of four years, and won the league championship twice. Thereafter, he continued as the director of East Coast scouting for the parent New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
.
Not ready to retire, Arnold became the head coach of his third college baseball team in 2007, accepting the opportunity to coach the Polk State Vikings of Polk State College in Winter Haven, Florida
Winter Haven, Florida
Winter Haven is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,487 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2007 estimates, the city had a population of 32,577, making it the second most populated city in Polk County...
. He coached the Vikings for four seasons, until heath concerns forced him to step down after the 2010 season.
Head coaching record
See also
- Arizona State Sun Devils
- Florida GatorsFlorida GatorsThe Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
- Florida Southern Moccasins
- History of the University of FloridaHistory of the University of FloridaThe history of the University of Florida is firmly tied to the history of public education in the state of Florida. The University of Florida, colloquially known as "Florida" or "UF," originated as several distinct institutions that were merged to create a single state-supported university by the...