Jo Ann Gordon was appointed as the new Athletics Director in February of 2024, a position she previously held from 2016-2018 before changing into an associate athletic director role in the summer of 2018, while also serving as the head softball coach during the time.
Gordon, the first head softball coach at Lourdes University, was officially hired in 2011 with the charge of starting the program for the 2013 season.
Tasked with the responsibilities of a compliance officer in July of 2021, coupled with her duties as an associate athletic director, Gordon turned in the coaching clipboard shortly following the conclusion of the 2021 softball season.
Gordon finished the 2021 campaign, her ninth and final at the helm of the Gray Wolves with a 98-218 career record. In nine years of coaching at Lourdes, Gordon collected double-digit wins in six of said seasons, including a school-record 18-win campaign in 2016.
During the 2016 season, Gordon guided Lourdes to a Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference tournament runner-up finish, and a berth in the NAIA National Championship Opening Round, the first tournament appearance in program history.
Gordon coached 19 All-WHAC selections in her nine seasons at Lourdes, including seven First Team picks and three Second Team honorees, while also guiding two members to the All-Defensive Team, and six players/pitchers of the week.
Academically, 44 members of the ‘Gordon era’ were named to the WHAC All-Academic Team, while nine were named Champions of Character.
On a national scale, Gordon produced two NFCA All-Great Lakes Region First Team and two Second Team selections during her tenure at the Gray Wolves' helm. 35 student-athletes were credited an NAIA Scholar-Athlete while 11 were CoSIDA/CSC Academic All-Amercian/All-District selections.
The 2021 season was Gordon’s 19th as a collegiate head coach, having spent seven seasons at the University of Toledo, a NCAA Division I program, and three other campaigns at Thiel College, a NCAA Division III program. In 19 seasons, Gordon coached over 700 softball games accumulating a 244-473 career record.
Gordon was the head coach at Toledo from 2003-2009, and guided seven All Mid-American Conference selections, including a pair of First Team picks. Her student-athletes excelled in the classroom, with 36 players earning NFCA Academic All-American honors.
Before Toledo, Gordon spent the 2000-2002 seasons as the head coach at Thiel, where she also served as the head volleyball coach.
She began her coaching career at Kent State University, where she served as an assistant coach for nine seasons. During this time, she helped the Golden Flashes win the 1999 Mid-American Conference East Division title.
During her playing days, Gordon was a four-year letterwinner at Kent State where she played first base and shortstop for the Golden Flashes. A two-time team captain, Gordon helped lead Kent State to the 1990 MAC title, the NCAA Mid-East Regional championship, and a berth in the Women’s College World Series. Gordon still ranks among Kent State’s career leaders in doubles (10th) and walks (7th).
Gordon earned her bachelor’s degree at Kent State in 1990 in physical education and a master’s degree in sports administration from the school in 1999. In 1991, she became a member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
