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History of PJC Sports |
Pensacola Junior College held its first day of classes on Sept. 13, 1948 with an enrollment of 128 students. As increasing enrollment produced the demand for student activities, Lou Ross, a social science instructor, introduced PJC's first basketball team in 1949 and coached the first baseball team in 1951. Ross served as the director of athletics and also served as the regional vice president of the National Junior College Athletic Association.
By 1951, intercollegiate sports included basketball, baseball, and tennis, and PJC became a member of a newly organized junior college conference made up of Florida schools.
In 1955, the women's sports program was introduced. Although women students at PJC did not participate in athletics at the intercollegiate level, they did participate in the annual Sports Day held by Florida colleges and universities. The intramural program also began in the mid-1950s under the direction of the Physical Education Department.
By 1963, PJC's athletic program had grown to include basketball, baseball, tennis, golf, track and field, a trampoline team and a swim team. Coach Bill Clendenin lead the men's basketball team to win the 1963 state championship. Since then, PJC has had several conference, state and national championship teams.
In 1974, women were welcomed to varsity sports and Joy Desensi was hired to coach the Lady Pirates basketball team.
In 1977, the men's basketball team traveled to Hutchinson, Kansas for the National Junior College Basketball Championship tournament. PJC returned ranked fifth in the nation.
In 1985, PJC's Lady Pirates won the state basketball championship and coach Vicki Carson was elected coach of the year.
1993 was another banner year for PJC sports. With Coach Bob Marlin at the helm, the men's basketball team once again traveled to Hutchinson, Kans. and became the first Florida team to win the NJCAA Division I National Championship. The revitalized Pirates golf team, under the leadership of Coach Jim Donovan, traveled to St. Simon's Island, Ga. to capture the NJCAA Division II National Championship that same year.
Competing in his first season at PJC, Coach Paul Swanson led the men's basketball team to the 1998 Panhandle Conference championship and was named coach of the year. That same year, PJC athletics expanded to include women's volleyball with Kim Hollon coaching.
Today, PJC competes in men's basketball, women's basketball, baseball, softball, and women's volleyball. The Pirates cheerleading squads have motivated athletes and fans from the start. |
