Pittsburg State Gorillas

Josh Barnes enters his second season as the head softball coach at Pittsburg State University in 2026 after being hired to the position on July 26, 2024.

In his inaugural season guiding the Gorillas in 2025, he became the first head coach in program history to lead the team to a National Tournament appearance in any division of play while setting the record for most wins by a first-year coach with 38. Junior shortstop Heather Arnett was named an All-American by the NFCA and D2CCA. Arnett would also be named a CSC Academic All-American®. Seven Gorillas were named to All-MIAA teams, headlined by Arnett and senior outfielder Courtney Storey on the first-team. Three Gorillas, Arnett, sophomore pitcher Ava Laurent and Storey were named to the CSC Academic All-District team, with 17 individuals being named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll. Five members of the team were also awarded MIAA Scholar-Athlete honors in Arnett, Laurent, junior outfielder Alleyna Rushing, Storey and redshirt senior infielder Kadyn Trochim.
 
Barnes comes to Pitt State after serving the two seasons as head coach at NJCAA powerhouse Crowder College in Neosho, Mo. 
 
"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."
 
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 be a part of 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.
 
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 (7), and a daughter, Charli (4).