Frank Wilkins was named head softball coach at Saint Joseph's College in May of 2000. He is preparing for his 14th season at SJC.
In 13 seasons, Wilkins has put together a record of 317-308-1, including a 130-174 record in Great Lakes Valley Conference games. The Pumas won the first conference tournament game in school history in 2002, then added another win in 2006. In 2013 SJC earned its third GLVC Tournament victory with a 3-2 win over Bellarmine University.
Wilkins, SJC's all-time winningest coach earned his 300th career victory on March 23rd with a 6-5 victory over Bellarmine. 2013 was highlighted by a 8-0 start to the season. The Pumas completed GLVC play with a 14-17 record, including another victory over No. 1 Indianapolis. UIndy was riding a 38-game winning-streak and 25-0 in the GLVC when SJC upended the Greyhounds 5-3 on April 24th. The Pumas finished the season as the eighth seed at the GLVC Tournament, falling to William Jewell College 8-2.
The 2012 season was one for the record books for the SJC softball program. The Pumas earned a berth into the GLVC Tournament as the fourth seed after completing a regular season in which SJC upset No. 2 Indianapolis twice in the last two weeks of the season. SJC qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in the program's history, winning the Super Regional Title and advancing to the College Softball World Series. SJC eventually exited the tournament after a 2-1, 11 inning loss to defending National Champions UC San Diego in the second elimination round. SJC posted a program best 40-21 record with a 6-2 mark in the post-season as well as a 22-12 finish in GLVC play. The Pumas started the year unranked, but finished seventh in the final NFCA Poll of the season, also marking the first time the program has been nationally ranked.
In 2011, SJC finished with a 19-26 overall record and a 7-19 mark in league play. During the 2010 season, SJC posted a record of 27-22 with an 11-19 mark in GLVC play. However, the Pumas fell short of the conference tournament in the late stages of the season.
In 2009, Wilkins help lead the Pumas to a 29-19 season, including a 15-5 mark in conference play earning the fourth seed in the GLVC Tournament. The 29 wins in a season is the most all time in the programs history.
He guided SJC to the first winning season in the history of the program with a 25-21 record in 2005, then led the Pumas to 26-17 and 26-24 finishes in 2006 and 2007.
Wilkins has been coaching softball at various levels for over 30 years. During that time, he formed and guided StarPath Softball, one of the top women's teams in the country. In 10 years, Wilkins' teams compiled an overall record of 397-105 against some of the best teams in the country. StarPath has won four state championships and have competed in the women's Major National Championships twice. In 1996, StarPath participated in an International Tournament in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where they posted a 9-1 record.
StarPath were the Indiana Women's State Champions in 1998 and 1999 and the Women's Major National Champions also in 1998 and 1999.
Wilkins also helped-out with the Lake Central High School softball team for several years. He also has run or participated in many of the Northwest Indiana softball clinics the past several years.
Wilkins is employed at Inspat Inland and resides in Dyer, Ind., with his wife, Barb. They have two children, Julie and Michael.
