The Johns Hopkins Department of Athletics debuted its Faculty-Coach initiative during the 2025-26 academic year. The program is designed to engage faculty members and create meaningful relationships and community between academic affairs and athletics by serving in a mentoring and supportive role of JHU's scholar-athletes.
 
Faculty Coaches will serve as honorary members of the coaching staff and act as an additional support person for scholar-athletes on the team.  They are available to answer academic questions and help direct scholar-athletes, particularly first year students, to the many resources available to all Johns Hopkins students.
 
The initial two-year commitment, which comes with an option to extend, provides the faculty member the opportunity to attend as many games and practices as their schedule allows, to watch games from the sideline/bench area, and to attend team-specific events, including end-of-year banquets and awards ceremonies.
 
Throughout the 2026-27 academic year, HopkinsSports.com will utilize a Q&A format to allow fans to learn more about a team's designated Faculty-Coach.  Today, we introduce Constanza Miranda, the Faculty-Coach for the Blue Jay Men's Basketball Team.

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Name:  Constanza Miranda
 
Faculty-Coach Team:  Men's Basketball
 
Alma Mater:  I studied in Chile, did my PhD at NC State and doctoral research at Stanford.
 
Position/Title at Johns Hopkins:  Assistant Dean Undergraduate Mentoring Whiting School of Engineering and Associate Teaching Professor in Biomedical Engineering
 
Year at Johns Hopkins: 7th
 
Tell us a little about your own athletic background: 
I played field hockey as a midfielder in middle and high school. In college, I was part of the first all woman's soccer (we call it "fútbol") team at UC Chile. The coolest thing I did was to play a preliminary match before the professional men's team. I am a hiker and my latest one was in Huayhuash Peru, climbing in an all-women's group from 4,000 to 5,000+ foot and peaks. In addition, two of my four kids play soccer consistently, one of them has attended the trainings at the JHU campus with Coach Vanzela. I try to take my kids to watch any sport where the Blue Jays are playing.
 
What is your favorite sport: 
fútbol, hiking, and of course now basketball!
 
How did you become involved in the Johns Hopkins Athletics Faculty-Coach program: 
As the dean for undergraduate mentoring for WSE, I had been meeting with Jen Baker and Allison Fondale to discuss how our mentoring programs could align without being the same. Then, one of my amazing first-year students suggested me for the faculty coach position with his basketball team. I happily accepted.
 
While the program is still in its infancy, tell us about your experience working with your team thus far: 
Coach Ryan is the best. I feel very welcomed by him and the team. I have attended games (which are so fun!) and I have met the players at least once. I also met some of their parents at the senior sendoff.
 
What has most surprised you, if anything, about working with and meeting the coaching staff and athletes on your team: 
The caring brotherhood. I really want my kids to have these athletes as role models. In addition, meeting the families was so moving.
 
As the faculty-coach for the team, what is your goal or what do you hope to accomplish: 
I really want to be part of their constellation of mentors. WSE students do have an assigned faculty mentor from their major, but I want to be an extra startup mentor for those in different schools too. I also want to help them become good mentees in their academic programs.
 
Either since you assumed this role or before that time, what is your most memorable Johns Hopkins Athletics experience: 
The people! From the leadership to every coach and staff member.  Friendly and on a joint mission.
 
If you have had the opportunity to have scholar-athletes in your class (from your team or others), please describe your experience with them as students: 
I've taught in different institutions. In Chile, my athlete students were always the best in time management. At Hopkins, I've had swimmers, baseball players, track, and soccer students. Again, the sense of team they have has have been instrumental in teaching others in my class the value of making connections with your cohort.
 
What would you tell faculty members who are not involved about this program: 
Join! You can teach them, but you will also learn from them!
 
Tell us something about yourself that not many people are aware of or that you think people would find interesting: 
I used braces in middle school, so when a field hockey ball struck my front teeth, they came off and thankfully protected my teeth.