from jazmyn

While I’ve put up power-hitter numbers in my career, my offensive philosophy is built on hitting line drives and hard ground balls. Statistically and historically, this approach produces more hits — and more extra-base hits — than the common goal of hitting deep fly balls, which too often turn into popouts or strikeouts.

When I’m slapping, the same mindset applies, but with greater nuance. The art of slapping is far more than simply hitting a ground ball — it’s about precision, timing, situational IQ, and exploiting defensive gaps. By the time we’re done, my goal for slappers is to answer the question, “What’s your favorite pitch to hit?” with, “The pitcher’s best pitch.”

I do not teach the “launch angle” swing. My focus is on proven, repeatable mechanics that translate into real results at every level of the game.

I’ve been coaching players since I graduated from UC Berkeley in 2018 — a business grad who accidentally became a professional athlete. Growing up, I knew I wanted to be something “big,” though I didn’t know what that was. I chose Berkeley not just for softball, but because I believed prioritizing my education would open doors. Schools like Oklahoma, Florida, Washington, or LSU made me feel like my path would be to coach or go pro — but softball wasn’t in the Olympics anymore, and neither of those futures appealed to me.

Funny enough, I never planned to become a pro — but God had other plans. At 19, I made Team USA, and the journey began. I became a gold medalist, traveled the world playing the sport I love, redefined myself as a player more than once, set records, played in front of 30,000 fans, and made lifelong friends along the way.

I started coaching in 2018 — reluctantly at first — after realizing I couldn’t stand working at Yard House (ha!) and finally giving in to giving lessons, something I thought was “beneath” my degree. It turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I discovered I love teaching this beautiful game. Over the years, I’ve absorbed knowledge from countless coaches, players, teams, and opponents, and it’s been a joy to pass that on to the next generation.

At my core, I’m a student of the game and an ultimate competitor. I love finding ways to beat my best self in practice and my opponent in competition. Sports mirror life: just when you figure something out, the next challenge appears. Being a professional is about having the resilience to adapt — mentally, physically, and emotionally — for as long as you can.

My mission as a coach is to teach not just skills, but the mindset of a lifelong learner in this game. My goal is for every athlete I work with to walk away with the same resilience and adaptability that has carried me through my own journey — and to do so with grace, joy, and empathy not only for others, of course, but most importantly, for themselves.