Dr. Joanna Lane
Senior Director of Education and Program Development
Dr. Joanna Lane joined the NFCA in August 2016 as the Director of Education and Program Development, following a 14-year collegiate coaching career. Lane, who assesses and designs training and educational resources for fastpitch coaches, serves as the NCAA Division I and Mentoring Committee liaisons and is responsible for the development of annual national Convention’s curriculum.
Highlighted by the creation of the The Dirt, NFCA Podcast and the catalyst behind the Division I’s early recruiting legislation, Lane is at the forefront of many educational and Division I initiatives. The voice of The Dirt also hosts NFCA webinars, is the lead on the NFCA’s National Fastpitch Coaches College (NFCC) courses and the NFCA’s mentoring program, which includes the establishment of the mentoring triangle in 2017. Most recently, Lane designed and implemented the NFCA Pitching and Hitting endorsements.
Lane joined the NFCA after five years as an assistant coach at Central Michigan University. The Circleville, Ohio native has held head coaching positions at South Dakota State (2008-12) and Wesleyan College in Macon, Ga. (2003-05) and an assistant coaching spot at Northern Illinois University (2005-08). During her time in Macon, she also served as the Director of Student-Athlete Development.
Lane, who earned her doctorate in educational leadership from Central Michigan in 2018, enjoyed a four-year playing career at Georgetown College, earning a bachelor’s degree in 2002. She followed up with a master’s in sports management from Florida State in 2003, where she served as a graduate assistant under NFCA Hall of Famer Dr. JoAnne Graf.
Lane resides in Louisville with her husband John and their daughters C.J. and Ellery.