Emma Johnson was hired in July of 2017 as Kent State softball’s pitching coach. Johnson is one of the most decorated pitchers in Kent State and Mid-American Conference history. She won two MAC Pitcher of the Year awards and is a two-time NFCA All-Mideast Region Second Team selection and a four-time conference selection.

During Johnson's first season she had two pitchers named to the All-MAC Second Team in Madi Huck and Brenna Brownfield. Huck led the MAC with 96.1 innings pitching in MAC games and had the second most shutouts with four in league play. Under Johnson's direction, she was sensational down the stretch, going 5-0 with three shutouts and a 1.09 ERA and won two MAC East Pitcher of the Week Awards.

Johnson capped off her college career with the nation’s third-lowest ERA and led Kent State to a 41-13 record and a MAC Championship. She also ranked in the top five nationally in strikeouts per seven innings, hits allowed per seven innings and shutouts. She also threw two no-hitters, a two-hit shutout at No. 15 UCF while tying the program record with 18 strikeouts, and a three-hit shutout at national runner-up No. 3 Michigan.

After her college career, Johnson was drafted by the Pennsylvania Rebellion of the NPF (National Pro Fastpitch League) with the 25th overall selection and played two seasons. In her rookie year, she pitched 66.0 innings and held the league’s seventh-best ERA (2.23) and held opponents to a .189 batting average.

We are excited to have Emma return to Kent State as our pitching coach," said Kent State head coach Eric Oakley. "Her career as a student-athlete speaks for itself. However, it is her experience as an instructor, as well as her time playing professionally, that are going to benefit our up-and-coming pitching staff. She has a great eye for mechanics and will be able to build our pitching staff in a very positive way. I enjoyed my time working with Emma during the 2015 season, and I look forward to working with her and Coach Pettipiece to continue the strong tradition of Kent State Softball on and off the field."

A native of Groveport, Ohio, Johnson has provided pitching instruction at Mannino's Grand Slam USA in nearby Dublin since 2013.