Joey Estrella joined the Vulcan softball staff in 2017 as an assistant coach, after wearing a baseball and administrative hat for many years.
He holds the longest tenure out of the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo staff, having led the baseball program from 1976 until his retirement in 2013, and also serving as interim assistant athletics director for external affairs and assistant athletics director for community engagement.
Estrella was the Vulcans Baseball program's first head coach, amassing a 657-935-5 record in 37 seasons while helping transition from NAIA (1977-1993) and NCAA Division I (1994-2008) to NCAA Division II (2009-present).
COACHING CAREER
» 2017 Hawai‘i Hilo Athletics Hall of Fame (1976-77 Men's Basketball)
» 657-935-5 record in 37 seasons as the Vulcans Baseball program's first head coach
» 1989 NAIA Area I Coach of the Year
» 1986 NAIA Area I Coach of the Year
» 1986 NAIA District 29 Coach of the Year
» Posted 11 consecutive winning seasons from 1980-1990 with a 307-171-1 record
» Three NAIA World Series Appearances (1986, 1987, 1989)
» Five NAIA District II Championships
PLAYING CAREER
» Spent first year playing basketball at Hawai‘i Hilo
» Played three seasons of baseball at UH Manoa for legendary coach Les Murakami
» First UH Manoa Jack Bonham Award Recipient in 1974
ALMA MATER
» St. Joseph High School (Hawai‘i) 1969
» University of Hawai‘i at Hilo
» University of Hawai‘i at Manoa 1974 - B.Ed Secondary Education
» University of Hawai‘i at Manoa 1976 - Master of Education
PERSONAL
» Hometown: Hilo, Hawai‘i
» Full Name: Joseph Estrella Jr.
» Has two children with his wife
» Created Joe and Harriet Estrella Scholarship in 2013 in honor of parents
CAREER
2017-Present: University of Hawai‘i at Hilo (Softball Assistant)
2015-2015: University of Hawai‘i at Hilo (Interim Director of Athletics)
1976-2013: University of Hawai‘i at Hilo (Baseball HC: 657-935-5)
2009-2013: University of Hawai‘i at Hilo (Assistant AD)
1980-1989: University of Hawai‘i at Hilo (Director of Athletics)
1976-1980: University of Hawai‘i at Hilo (Men's Basketball Assistant)
1975-1976: University of Hawai‘i at Manoa (Baseball Graduate Assistant)
