JoAnne Ferguson
Hahn Grant Awardee: Professor JoAnne Ferguson brings a distinguished coaching background to her roles at Pomona. She is also a Professor of Physical Education and Head Softball Coach at Pomona College, now in her 20th year at the institution. At Pomona-Pitzer, Professor Ferguson’s team are consistently competitive, qualifying for the SCIAC tournament and leading the conference in many statistical categories. Prior to her arrival at Pomona, Professor Ferguson served as the Head Softball Coach at George Washington University. She began her head coaching career at Kenyon College.
Professor Ferguson’s areas of expertise include softball, tennis, weight training, and speed and agility training. Her broader expertise also encompasses aerobic fitness, fitness and wellness, and her research interests extend to student-athlete wellness and sport psychology. Additionally, she is a certified Sports Life Coach, Champion Wellbeing Advisor, and certified Chief Wellbeing Officer.
Student Assistant/TA: Brooke Bullis (PO ’27)
Project Title: Elevating Pomona Softball with Rapsodo 2.0 Technology
Project Goal: The Pomona College softball program acquired Rapsodo Pro 2.0, a cutting-edge flight monitoring system, to enhance player development, recruiting, and overall competitiveness while fostering academic and professional growth. Trusted by over 90% of NCAA Division I softball programs, Rapsodo provides real-time metrics and video feedback on hitting and pitching performance, including exit velocity, launch angle, spin rate, pitch velocity, and 3D ball flight analysis. Its precision empowers student-athletes to make immediate adjustments, develop individualized training plans, and track measurable progress, boosting confidence and motivation. The system’s standardized RapScore benchmarks allow players to compare their performance against collegiate and professional peers, strengthening Pomona’s recruiting profile and attracting top talent. Beyond athletics, Rapsodo introduces students to advanced sports analytics, cultivating skills in critical thinking, data literacy, and self-assessment that translate into academic success and future careers in coaching, sports science, or data analysis. Implementation over 12 months will integrate the technology into practices, training sessions, and recruiting efforts, with evaluation through RapScores, performance statistics, and feedback surveys. This investment will also benefit the broader community by enhancing team competitiveness, supporting local camps and clinics, and promoting inclusivity by tailoring feedback to diverse playing styles. By bridging traditional coaching with modern, data-driven methodologies, Pomona will position itself as a leader in softball innovation, equity, and student-athlete development.
Project Outcome: The project has made significant progress through the completion of its planning and Fall 2025 implementation phases. The Rapsodo 2.0 unit has been fully integrated into Varsity Softball training sessions, with coaches and a student assistant achieving certification and pitchers independently utilizing the system during bullpen sessions. Baseline performance data has been successfully collected for both pitchers and hitters, with early results showing measurable improvements in velocity, spin efficiency, and pitch consistency. A standout example includes documented increases in fastball spin efficiency and pitch velocity, demonstrating the technology’s direct impact on player development and validating the project’s data-driven approach. While Wi-Fi connectivity challenges at the softball field have caused occasional slowdowns, the team is actively exploring solutions such as a Wi-Fi booster to improve efficiency. Overall, the project has achieved key milestones, fostered strong athlete engagement with performance analytics, and positioned the program to expand implementation this year into hitting sessions, live gameplay scenarios, and camps.