A 2014 graduate of Iona, Katie Jansson was a standout student-athlete for the Gaels from 2010 to 2014. A four-year starter at catcher, the Gaels won three MAAC softball championships (2011, 2012 and 2014) during her tenure. Jansson was a 2014 MAAC All-Tournament Team selection. She ranks top-10 in program history with 199 career games played, 517 plate appearances and 79 runs batted in. Jansson's 16 home runs are second-most by a Gael catcher and just outside the top-10 in program history. Academically, she was a three-time MAAC All-Academic Team honoree and NFCA Scholar-Athlete All-American.
In her first season as head coach at Iona, Jansson led the Gaels to a 19-27 overall (12-8 MAAC) record and the No. 4 seed in the MAAC postseason. The Maroon & Gold had four student-athletes earn All-MAAC distinction and named 12 student-athletes to the MAAC All-Academic Team.
The following season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic after just eight games. Iona went 2-6 in those contests.
With the resumption of sports in the Spring of 2021, the Gaels would play a 40-game conference-only schedule. Iona finished 22-12 overall, falling to the eventual MAAC Champion Manhattan Jaspers in the opening round of the MAAC Championship. Under Jansson's tutelage, Iona took home three MAAC Major Awards. Jessica Chilcott was the MAAC Player of the Year, Kara Zazzaro earned MAAC Pitcher of the Year honors and Jamie Sheeran was awarded the MAAC Rookie of the Year. Academically, 11 student-athletes earned MAAC All-Academic distinction.
In 2018, Jansson served as head coach at Monroe College, located across town in New Rochelle. She was responsible for all aspects of running a competitive NJCAA Division I softball program including scheduling, travel coordination, practice planning, academic monitoring, recruiting, preparing scouting reports, facility and equipment management and strength and conditioning.
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Jansson led the Mustangs to a 21-19 overall record and a 2018 NJCAA Region X tournament berth, the first appearance in program history at the NJCAA DI level. She also coached Monroe's first ever NJCAA DI All-American. Jansson's attention to academics was noted with her team grade-point average of 3.0, a program record.
Prior to taking the helm with the Mustangs, Jansson was an assistant coach with the Maroon & Gold during the 2017 season. The Gaels took first place in the MAAC standings to earn the regular season title and hosted the conference tournament for the first time in school history. The program also took part in the inaugural NISC Tournament and picked up its first ever national postseason win.
In her one season coaching at Iona, the Gaels dominated the MAAC, ranking top five in multiple offensive categories and ranked 13th nationally in fielding percentage as a squad.
Jansson's tutelage helped Alana Evans '21 earn MAAC Pitcher of the Year and catcher Tori Danner '19 claim MAAC Defensive Player of the Year. Iona had six All-MAAC selections, including three on the first team, one on the second and two all-rookie honorees.
Prior to joining head coach Melissa Inouye's staff, Jansson was a graduate assistant coach at Manhattanville College. The Valiants boasted a historic 2016 campaign that included being Middle Atlantic Freedom Conference champions, an NCAA Regional championship and 2016 NCAA Super Regional appearance. The Valiants led all of Division III in multiple offensive categories, including home runs and slugging percentage. They set numerous new program bests in offensive categories.
Jansson graduated cum laude in 2014 with a BA in speech language pathology. She obtained an MS in sports business management at Manhattanville.
