Jessica Johnson is in her seventh year as head coach of the Brandeis University softball team. She was named the 2010 University Athletic Association Coach of the Year after bringing the Judges to their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth, where they finished third at the New England regional. Johnson previously led the Judges to three straight ECAC Division III New England tournament berths, including a school-record 38 wins and an ECAC crown in 2008. In her tenure, Johnson has coached one All-American (Kaitlin Streilein '08) and eight players who have earned 12 All-New England selections.

Johnson is a 1998 graduate of Wheaton College with a degree in English literature. As an outfielder and shortstop on the Wheaton softball teams, she was a four-year starter who earned All-American honors for the Lyons in 1995 and 1997. Johnson is among Wheaton’s career leaders in most offensive categories and is still their career leader in batting average and slugging percentage. She led the nation in home runs as a junior in 1997. Wheaton made two appearances in the NCAA Division III tournament in her tenure on the team, finishing third in the nation in her junior campaign.

Johnson was a four-time Academic All-Conference selection in the New England Women’s Eight. In addition to her B.A. from Wheaton, Johnson earned a master’s in counseling psychology from Lesley University in 2002.

Johnson came to Brandeis from Mount Ida College, where she was head coach during the 2005 and 2006 seasons. After serving as an assistant at Mount Ida in 2004, Johnson led the Mustangs to their two winningest seasons in program history. She also served as an assistant coach at Framingham State College in 2003.