Josh Johnson joined the Virginia Tech softball staff as an assistant coach in June 2023. He will work primarily with the pitchers, after spending four season at Mississippi State.
As the associate head coach for the Bulldogs, Johnson helped transform the pitching staff, as well as serving as MSU’s recruiting coordinator. From 2019 to 2023, he helped reduce the staff ERA from a 3.36 to 2.66, walks per game from 4.44 to 2.45 and increased strikeouts per game from 5.65 to 8.49.
In his first season in 2020, the Bulldogs’ staff ERA sat at 1.36 which was ranked fourth nationally. In the circle, Mississippi State set school records in strikeouts per seven innings (9.27), fewest hits allowed (102) and opponents’ batting average (.158). After finishing last in the SEC with 130 walks in 2019, the Bulldogs’ pitching staff finished fourth with just 58 walks. The Bulldogs were second in the SEC in both strikeouts (245) and opponent’s batting average (.158).
The 2022 season saw Mississippi State’s pitching staff strike out 98 batters looking, which was second in the SEC and third in MSU history. MSU’s 410 total strikeouts were fourth in the SEC. Johnson’s pitchers were instrumental in the Bulldogs reaching their first Super Regional in program history, defeating the Seminoles twice in the Tallahassee Regional.
Following the 2022 season, pitcher Annie Willis was selected with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 WPF Draft by the Smash It Vipers, marking the fourth Bulldog to be chosen in a professional draft.
Under Johnson’s development, Josey Marron ranked seventh in the SEC in strikeouts per seven innings during the 2023 season and fifth in strikeout-to-walk ratio. The Mississippi State pitching staff was also fifth in the SEC in strikeout-to-walk ratio with 375 total strikeouts.
Prior to his time at Mississippi State, Johnson spent four seasons as a member of Ball State’s softball staff, where the Cardinals posted a 123-99 overall record during his time there. Ball State won the 2018 MAC West Division Title and the pitching staff maintained a staff ERA below 3.00 each season. The 2018 season saw a program-best ERA since 2010 with a 2.48, adding 328 strikeouts.
Johnson also spent time as the pitching coach at Louisiana from 2013-2014, making an NCAA Super Regional appearance with a 47-15 overall record. He helped increase the staff strikeout total by 122 from the previous season and increased ace Jordan Wallace’s strikeout total by 215 from the previous season. She was ranked third nationally with 382 strikeouts.
As the head softball coach at Faulkner Sate Community College (2010-13), Johnson saw the two highest finishes in program history, including the school’s first state championship appearance, posting a 119-60 overall record during his time there. Under his guidance, the program broke every team and individual batting, base running and pitching record in program history, as well as produced 14 NJCAA All-Americans.
As the associate head coach for the Bulldogs, Johnson helped transform the pitching staff, as well as serving as MSU’s recruiting coordinator. From 2019 to 2023, he helped reduce the staff ERA from a 3.36 to 2.66, walks per game from 4.44 to 2.45 and increased strikeouts per game from 5.65 to 8.49.
In his first season in 2020, the Bulldogs’ staff ERA sat at 1.36 which was ranked fourth nationally. In the circle, Mississippi State set school records in strikeouts per seven innings (9.27), fewest hits allowed (102) and opponents’ batting average (.158). After finishing last in the SEC with 130 walks in 2019, the Bulldogs’ pitching staff finished fourth with just 58 walks. The Bulldogs were second in the SEC in both strikeouts (245) and opponent’s batting average (.158).
The 2022 season saw Mississippi State’s pitching staff strike out 98 batters looking, which was second in the SEC and third in MSU history. MSU’s 410 total strikeouts were fourth in the SEC. Johnson’s pitchers were instrumental in the Bulldogs reaching their first Super Regional in program history, defeating the Seminoles twice in the Tallahassee Regional.
Following the 2022 season, pitcher Annie Willis was selected with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 WPF Draft by the Smash It Vipers, marking the fourth Bulldog to be chosen in a professional draft.
Under Johnson’s development, Josey Marron ranked seventh in the SEC in strikeouts per seven innings during the 2023 season and fifth in strikeout-to-walk ratio. The Mississippi State pitching staff was also fifth in the SEC in strikeout-to-walk ratio with 375 total strikeouts.
Prior to his time at Mississippi State, Johnson spent four seasons as a member of Ball State’s softball staff, where the Cardinals posted a 123-99 overall record during his time there. Ball State won the 2018 MAC West Division Title and the pitching staff maintained a staff ERA below 3.00 each season. The 2018 season saw a program-best ERA since 2010 with a 2.48, adding 328 strikeouts.
Johnson also spent time as the pitching coach at Louisiana from 2013-2014, making an NCAA Super Regional appearance with a 47-15 overall record. He helped increase the staff strikeout total by 122 from the previous season and increased ace Jordan Wallace’s strikeout total by 215 from the previous season. She was ranked third nationally with 382 strikeouts.
As the head softball coach at Faulkner Sate Community College (2010-13), Johnson saw the two highest finishes in program history, including the school’s first state championship appearance, posting a 119-60 overall record during his time there. Under his guidance, the program broke every team and individual batting, base running and pitching record in program history, as well as produced 14 NJCAA All-Americans.