MEET COACH JO

Founder & Owner

  • Graduated from Tufts University in 2014

  • 3x NCAA Division III National Champion – 2013, 2014, 2015

  • 3x NFCA All-American

  • 2014 NCAA Woman of the Year Award nominee

  • Hit 67 career homeruns, which currently ranks 3rd in Division III history

  • Holds 16 offensive records in Tufts Softball history

7.png
 
 
 

My story

 

My name is Johanna, although many know me as Jo, and I am the founder and owner of Protect the Plate.

As an eight year old, I was the only girl on my baseball team. When given the opportunity to try catching, I immediately fell in love with the grind and inherent leadership of the position. I got a different view of the field than everyone else and was involved in every pitch of the game. I was hooked! I made the switch to softball when I turned 10 and my family moved from Michigan to Connecticut.  I played for the Connecticut Eliminators for my entire youth career.

But softball was not my only priority growing up.  The academic rigor of high school presented a challenge and I rose to meet it. I pursued excellence in the classroom with the same passion I had for catching. When posed with what to do for college, I had the opportunity to go to a high academic institution because of my grades, but I also wanted to play competitive collegiate softball. This combination landed me in Medford, MA at Tufts University, a member of NCAA Division III and the New England Small College Athletic Conference.

Tufts allowed me to truly embody all aspects of being a student-athlete at a liberal arts institution. I earned a Bachelor’s in Psychology while taking on leadership positions in the admissions office and Student Athletic Advisory Committee.  On the field, I was part of a truly special era in Tufts softball history. During the 2012 through 2014 seasons, the Jumbos posted a 134-14 record and won two NCAA Division III National Championships. In my four years at Tufts, I was constantly pushed to become a better student, athlete, person, and leader through a broad range of opportunities and experiences in and outside the lines.

I was a successful hitter and was awarded All-American honors three times, but I always prided myself on my work behind the plate and on my relationships with each of the pitchers.  One of the stat lines that I am most proud of is the steady decline in team ERA during the four years I was behind the dish for Tufts: 3.21 in 2011, 2.67 in 2012, 1.55 in 2013, and 1.01 in 2014, which ranked second in the country.  The highlight of my catching career was being named the Diamond Catcher of the Year in 2014.

Upon graduation, a friend suggested that I give private lessons in my spare time as a way to stay connected to the game.  One catcher turned into two catchers and two catchers turned into small group lessons. They showed me what power and influence I could have as a coach and will forever be who inspired Protect the Plate as it exists now.

In the meantime, I pursued coaching at the collegiate level. I stayed on staff with Tufts for another year and then made a jump to another top-ranked Division III program, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in Southern California.  After two more years in the college game, I returned to the Boston area to realize my passion for coaching youth and formally commit to building Protect the Plate full time.

While I strive to be at the forefront of developing catchers, I am more passionate about using sports as a vehicle to teach skills that will scale beyond the softball field. My commitment to help young women reach their potential has fostered a community where they are able to authentically develop both physical and life skills. I approach athletic development holistically, which inspires relentless learning, consistent optimism and a belief in empowering young people.