Joliet Junior College Women's Softball

O'Shea to make a positive impact with our student-athletes by providing support services for academic successes and degree completion. Before JJC, Kerri spent two years at Robert Morris University as a High School Relations Counselor and Academic Advisor. She also spent two years as the Assistant Varsity Softball Coach at her alma mater, Lincoln-Way Central High School in New Lenox, IL. She has also worked within the Plainfield School District as a long-term substitute high school guidance counselor. Kerri is a graduate and former student-athlete of the University of St. Francis with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Visual Art with a focus in Graphic Design. She earned a Master's Degree and Type 73 certification at Lewis University in School Guidance and Counseling, where she was a Graduate Assistant Softball Coach for two years. Kerri grew up in New Lenox, IL and attended Lincoln-Way Central High School. She currently resides in St. John, IN with her husband Michael and two boys.   Gregg Braun Student-Athlete Retention Specialist/Associate Head Baseball Coach Gregg Braun begins his ninth year at Joliet Junior College on the baseball coaching staff and his eighth year as the Student-Athlete Retention Specialist. Coach Braun helped guide the 2012 Wolves baseball team to an NJCAA Division III National Championship in Tyler, TX. JJC finished that season with a 37-29 overall record. During his past eight seasons at Joliet, he has helped lead JJC to a national championship (2012), national runner-up (2015), a 6th place finish (2011), and a 4th place finish (2009) at the NJCAA Division III World Series.  Before JJC, Coach Braun spent two years as the assistant varsity baseball coach at his alma mater, Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, IL where he coached under former longtime JJC assistant baseball coach, Mark Smith. Gregg also coached football at Providence, coaching the secondary on the sophomore level. Prior to coaching at Providence, he spent one year at Romeoville High School as an assistant varsity baseball coach and a year at Lemont High School where he was a freshman assistant coach. Gregg attended Providence Catholic High School, where he was an all-area catcher on the baseball field and played free safety on the gridiron for the Celtics. Gregg helped lead the Celtics in football to the final two of four straight IHSA State Championships in 1996 and 1997. He then continued his football career at Butler University in Indianapolis, IN. Gregg lettered for the Bulldogs in 2000 and 2001, playing free safety for them as well. He earned his bachelor of science degree with a major in telecommunication arts and a minor in journalism. Gregg received his master's degree in sports leadership from Northeastern University in Boston, MA. He also serves as a trainer for the Chicago Chapter of Positive Coaching Alliance. Gregg and his fiancee Kate reside in Plainfield, IL.   Michelle Schoolman Student-Athlete Retention Specialist Michelle Schoolman began her role as a Student-Athlete Retention Specialist in the Spring 2016 semester. She is excited to help motivate and assist student-athletes in reaching their goals. Michelle comes to JJC with an extensive background in counseling and advising. She held the position as College and Career Counselor at Lockport Township High School and Minooka Community High School where she supported many students in post-secondary planning. Most recently, Michelle was an Academic Advisor at the undergraduate and graduate levels at DeVry University and Keller Graduate School of Management. Michelle is a graduate of A.A. Stagg High School in Palos Hills, IL. She earned her Bachelor's of Science in Sociology from Illinois State University and her Masters of Arts in School Counseling from Governors State University. She resides in Channahon, IL with her husband and two sons.   Stephanie Kneip Athletic Department Administrative Assistant/Sports Information Director Stephanie Kneip begins her 17th year as the Joliet Junior College Athletic Department Administrative Assistant. She also is the Sports Information Director. In addition to her many duties as the Athletic Department Administrative Assistant, she has also been the Sports Information Director for the past eleven years. She was assistant women's basketball coach for three seasons and assistant softball coach for two seasons. Stephanie is a graduate of Reed-Custer High School in Braidwood, IL. She earned seven varsity letters while competing in basketball, softball and cross-country. Following her prep career, Stephanie continued her athletic career at JJC and was a member of the Lady Wolves basketball and softball teams. In her freshman season, the Lady Wolves softball team finished the season with a school record 33 wins and placed 2nd at the NJCAA Division III National Tournament. Stephanie earned her associates degree in Business Administration from JJC. She and her husband Jeremy, reside in Joliet, IL.    Nate Seville Athletic Trainer Nate Seville MAEd, ATC/L, who works as an outreach capacity through ATI Physical Therapy, is in his ninth year as an athletic trainer for Joliet Junior College. He comes from University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), where he received his master's degree in Exercise Physiology. While at UAB, he worked for two years as one of the graduate assistant athletic trainers and had direct supervision over football. In 2004, the team participated in their first every bowl game - The Hawaii Bowl. Prior to his time at UAB, he was chosen as one of the seasonal intern athletic trainers for the 2002 season of the Chicago Bears. In 2007, he worked as the head athletic trainer for NFL Europe's Hamburg Seadevils football team in Germany. The team won the league's last World Bowl. Nate completed his undergraduate studies at Illinois State University in 2002 and received bachelors of science in athletic training and exercise physiology. While at ISU, he had rotations in football, track and field, softball, cheerleading, and also did some high school coverage as part of his athletic training curriculum. Nate grew up in South Holland, IL and graduated from Thornwood High School in 1997. He currently resides in New Lenox, IL with his wife Rayandra and sons Nolan and Owen.    Bill Sobodas, ATC/L, CWcHP Assistant Athletic Trainer Bill Sobodas  ATC/L, CWcHP is an outreach athletic trainer employed by ATI Physical therapy. He works part time at Joliet Junior College and part-time working with Dr. Jason Hurbanek (team physician for JJC). Bill is in his third year as an outreach athletic trainer for JJC. He graduated from Lewis University in 2008 with a Bachelor's in Athletic Training. While at Lewis University, he had clinical rotations at Plainfield South High School, Lewis University, University of Saint Francis, and Joliet Junior College. His undergraduate internship was at the University of Illinois-Chicago, primarily working with their baseball program. He worked as an outreach athletic trainer at Aurora University during the 2008-09 school year. From 2009-2014, he worked as a work conditioning provider/director and has been a Functional Capacity Assessment Specialist since 2010. Bill grew up in Joliet, IL and graduated from Joliet West High School in 2003. He currently resides in Channahon, IL with his wife Brianne. 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Mike Bednarz is in his second year as JJC's assistant softball coach.  A retired physical education teacher, Bednarz brings more than 35 years of coaching experience to the Wolves. He also serves as the lead instructor in the Xfinity Kids Zone area at Guaranteed Rate Field and helps to staff corporate and special on-field events at the ballpark. He has worked for the Chicago White Sox since 2005 when he was hired to provide youth instruction for the now defunct Chicago White Sox Training Academy.  Bednarz got his baseball coaching start at George Williams College in Downers Grove in 1985, coaching there for only one year before the campus closed in 1986. He then served as a hitting coach at North Park University for two years before being hired as the head coach at Evergreen Park High School. He coached the Mustangs from 1987 to 1991 before leaving to serve as an assistant coach at Hinsdale South High School from 1991 to 1995. He also coached high school girls’ basketball for 18 years, coaching at Evergreen Park, Oak Forest and Bremen high schools at various levels over his career.  A native Chicagoan, Bednarz played baseball at Weber High School then Greenville College (now Greenville University) in southern Illinois. Although he spent most of his playing time in the middle infield, he finished his career as a catcher.  Bednarz retired from Nathan Hale Middle School in Crestwood in 2020. He and his wife, Amy, live in Lockport and have three adult children.