The Justice

Media Credit: David Sheppard-Brick Softball coach Jessica Johnson gives instructions to her team during its historic playoff run in the ECAC tournament.

Jessica Johnson, who just completed her second season as head coach of the Brandeis softball team, was originally recruited to play soccer at Wheaton College and almost didn't even play college softball.

"[I] was a soccer fanatic and wasn't planning on playing college softball, but ended up [doing so], and here I am today. Go figure," she said. "I was clearly better at softball, and I enjoy the strategic aspect of softball more than probably coaching soccer."

Johnson had little debate, however, over whether to accept the softball coaching vacancy at Brandeis. Although she didn't know many details about the Brandeis softball program prior to her arrival in the fall of 2006, when the chance to coach the softball team arose, Johnson accepted the position with open arms.

"I didn't think it would open up for another 10 years, and [Brandeis] was one of those institutions with a lot of resources," she said. "If you can land that sort of job, you better take it. For me it was a no-brainer once it was offered, when it was on the table."

Johnson began her term on October 1, 2006 after former coach Mary Sullivan was fired under controversy the month before. Even before her tenure officially began, Johnson was eager to familiarize herself with the team.

"Basically, two days after I was hired I think [I started], because fall ball was already under way. I wanted to get in here as quickly as possible," she said.

Her efforts immediately paid dividends, leading the Judges to their first Eastern College Athletic Conference tournament in 2007, where they finished in third place. For Johnson, this was uncharted territory as a head coach.

"For me, outside of conference play, I had never made the postseason as a coach," she said. "I had never done an ECAC or an NCAA Tournament."

Under Johnson's guidance this season, the softball team not only returned to postseason play, but also made more history. After just missing the NCAA Tournament, the Judges captured their first ECAC tournament championship with a 6-5 walk-off win over Keene State College May 11 after having swept the first three games of the tournament by a combined 13-4 score. The squad's 38 wins were the most for any team in Brandeis athletics history.

Continued...

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