Joe pitched on scholarship at Spring Hill College  (AL) from 1989-1992.  In 1991 and  1992, he was selected All Conference/All District NAIA and was  also the recepient of the National Alumni  Assoc. Senior Athlete Award.  Joe is the all time school leader in innings pitched, wins, saves, and holds the  school record for most strikeouts in a game  (13).  After his senior year, he stayed at Spring Hill as a graduate assistant baseball coach while completing his  masters degree in education.

He signed his first professional  contract with the Mobile Bay Sharks (AL) of the Independent  Texas/Louisiana League in 1995.  Stutz was a starting pitcher for former major league player and manager Butch Hobson  and was fortunate enough to have former major league pitcher Neil Allen as his  pitching coach.  During the off season of that year, he was chosen  as the first head baseball coach for  Bayside Academy HS (Daphne, AL).

In 1996, Joe signed with the Alexandria Aces  (LA) of the Independent Texas/Louisiana League, which was managed by  former major league player, Stan Cliburn.   Stutz was 1st. in team ERA and 2nd. in the  league, with a 3.04 ERA as a set up man and closer.  During the off  season off that year, he played winter league  baseball in South America (Columbia) under former major league player, Jose Tartabull.

 He played the next two seasons with Rio Grande  Valley Whitewings (TX) of the Independent Texas/Louisiana League.  Joe  pitched for former major league player, Mike  Brumley in 1997.  Stutz served as  pitching coach and was the team closer for the 1998 season. His  consistency on the mound was noticed and Joe was selected to the T/L All Star  Team.

Joe left the T/L league in 1999 to pitch for  his hometown Madison Black Wolf (WI) of the Independent Northern League, which  was managed by former major league player,  (Dirty) Al Gallagher.  He was used quite often as a set up man and closer  and was 2nd. in the league in appearances.  After the season, Stutz  stayed in Wisconsin and operated the technology sales company, Stutz Associates.  

He moved to the Valley in 2001 and resides here  with his wife, Maggie and daughters Riley (11) and Delaney (8 mos.). Stutz is currently the head baseball coach at Xavier Prep High  School.