Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) hired Sabrina Hartsell to be its next softball coach. Hartsell, a former FSCJ softball player and alumni, was appointed by Athletic Director Jerry Thor to take the lead this upcoming 2023-24 season.
"We are excited to welcome Coach Hartsell as the new leader of FSCJ Softball," Jerry Thor said. "She brings a tremendous amount of experience teaching the game of softball at the college, high school and youth levels. As an alum of the team, she has a clear sense of pride in the program and her efforts will ensure our students have the same positive experience here that she did."
Sabrina Hartsell comes to FSCJ after spending several years coaching in the Florida College System Activities Association (FSCAA) and Region 8. Her previous collegiate coaching career includes stops at St. Johns River State College from 2018-21 and Daytona State College from 2015-18 where she served as the pitching coach for both programs.
"I am excited for this opportunity at FSCJ that will allow me to lead a program I was once a part of," said Coach Hartsell. "It is truly an honor and blessing to be back at my alma mater coaching a sport I love. I also cannot wait to start connecting and building relationships with our local softball community. I would like to thank FSCJ President Dr. John Avendano and Athletic Director Jerry Thor for giving me this opportunity to be a part of the athletic department and entrusting me with program."
Hartsell's coaching career started at Bolles High School, where she served as the assistant coach and head coach from 1999-2002. Hartsell stepped away from coaching to focus on her healthcare career, working in the Wolfson Children's Hospital Emergency Room. During that time, she provided private pitching lessons and then in December 2010, returned to coaching at Creekside High School. Her five-year tenure at Creekside resulted in a record of 125-17, four straight playoff appearances, four district titles, two regional titles and two state playoff appearances finishing as the runner-up once.
In the off-season, Hartsell also worked with local travel ball programs helping to develop young pitchers: 16U Florida Select Softball Program, Pro Impact Travel Softball Program and even starting the Florida Force Travel Softball program.
Hartsell is a graduate of FSCJ and a former member of the softball program. She pitched for two years and received accolades for "Pitcher of the Week" several times during her playing career. Hartsell attended Orange Park High School in Jacksonville, where she was a two-sport athlete competing in softball and weightlifting. As a member of the softball team, she was named MVP, Pitcher of the Year, selected to the All-State Team and set several school records.