Updated: September 15, 2025
First Day at Johns Hopkins: September 20, 2023
Jessica Coppolino joined the Johns Hopkins staff as Associate Director of Athletics/Director of Recreation in September 2023 and was promoted to Deputy Director of Athletics in July 2024.
In her position as the Deputy Director of Athletics, Coppolino oversees the day-to-day operations of the department and works closely with Director of Athletics Jennifer Baker to define, shape and advance the Department of Athletics and Recreation. She serves as the main sport administrator for several of Johns Hopkins' 24 varsity athletic programs, provides oversight for a number of internal areas within the department and is the primary liaison with many of the departments and offices on campus that work closely with athletics and recreation.
In her previous role as Associate Director of Athletics/Director of Recreation, Coppolino led a dedicated team of more than 10 full-time professionals alongside a part-time and student workforce numbering more than 180 individuals. She directed a multifaceted campus recreation program that services the evolving well-being needs and aspirations of the Johns Hopkins community. The expansive program includes an array of fitness classes, intramural offerings, an expansive club sports program, and enriching experiential education activities.
In addition to her leadership role within the recreation program, Coppolino also served as the sport administrator for the Blue Jays' highly-successful women's soccer and water polo programs during her first year at Johns Hopkins.
Coppolino came to Johns Hopkins after spending two years at Oregon State University. There, she had most recently served as the Assistant Director of Athletics and Chief of Staff for Vice President/Director of Athletics Scott Barnes. In that role, Coppolino helped manage the Beavers' 16-sport athletic program that competed in the PAC-12. She was actively involved in the day-to-day operation of the Vice President's office and played an integral role in the redevelopment of the department's long-term "Build the Dam" strategic plan.
Prior to her time at Oregon State, Coppolino spent four years as the Director of Athletics, Recreation and Physical Education at Mount Saint Mary College (NY). She oversaw all operations for the Knights' athletic program, which consisted of 19 varsity teams, as well as a robust campus recreation program that served the college's more than 1,500 students.
A two-time captain of the Siena College softball team during her playing career from 2007-10, Coppolino spent four seasons (2014-17) as the head softball coach at Mount Saint Mary and finished her tenure with a program-record 89 wins (89-51), a pair of Skyline Conference titles and two trips to the NCAA Tournament.
Coppolino stepped down from coaching at the conclusion of the 2017 season when she was named the Director of Athletics, Recreation and Physical Education. She had previously assumed an administrative role when she was named Assistant Director of Athletics in 2015. In this role, she served as the department's Senior Woman Administrator, served on a number of Skyline Conference committees, gained valuable experience in budget operations and compliance and also oversaw all community service initiatives.
Coppolino graduated from Siena in 2010 with a degree in history education and later earned a master's degree in education and an MBA from Mount Saint Mary.
