By Kendall Upchurch – Staff Reporter 

Excitement is building as Jonathan Law welcomes Coach Jaqueline Jozefick to lead the girls basketball team.

For Jozefick, the decision to step into coaching at Jonathan Law was shaped by her own experiences as a player.

“Throughout my playing career, I had some great coaches and some that made it tough to show up each day,” Jozefick said. “I know how much of a difference having a coach that cares can make. I hope to create a space where players enjoy the sport and want to show up each day, for themselves, their coaches, and their teammates.”  

Before coming to Law, Jozefick was a Freshman, JV, and Varsity Assistant Coach at St. Joseph High School. She continues to coach AAU basketball out of Milford, giving her experience with athletes at many levels. 

Her connection to Jonathan Law runs deep, not only professionally but also personally. 

“I grew up in Milford, and my family still lives here,” Jozefick said. “Jonathan Law is where I would have gone if I hadn’t attended St. Joe’s, so I always followed their athletic programs from afar. When the job opened up, it was something I didn’t think I could pass up.”

That sense of local pride and purpose hasn’t gone unnoticed by her players. 

“I think she’s great,” junior Sadie Timmeny said. “She’s super committed to the team and overall a good role model for us. I was definitely excited but nervous to have a female coach. She’s tough, pushing us in conditioning sessions, already getting us in shape.” 

The team’s conditioning sessions have been a key part of Jozefick’s preseason plan. 

“We review our past fall league game at the beginning of every conditioning session,” Timmeny said. “I think that’s an important part of what we do.”

That structure is something teammates said sets Jozefick apart.

 “Something that stands out about how she runs practices and her organization,” sophomore Gabby Rodriguez said. “She has an iPad with conditioning plans, stats, and ideas for improvement. Everything runs smoothly and on time. At first, I think our team was a bit intimidated, but now we enjoy joking around with her between drills. She does a great job balancing focus time and fun.”

Rodriguez described Jozefick’s coaching style as “intense and motivating.” 

“She has been great at getting us more focused and helping us become better versions of ourselves,” Rodriguez said.

Sophomore Emma Bonanno said Jozefick brings both personality and purpose to the team. 

“To describe Jackie in a few words: funny, reliable, and honest,” Bonanno said. “ She’s helping everyone grow their confidence on and off the court. My favorite moment so far was when the girls were talking about our plans for the season, it made me excited and ready to start.”

Senior Cassie Rodriguez said the program already feels revitalized. 

“We’ve been conditioning together and playing in the fall league, and we’ll be much more prepared this season,” Rodriguez said. “I like her coaching style because she encourages us to play at our full potential while holding us accountable.”

Athletic Director Mr. Drew said he is excited to see how Jozefick would impact the team and program. 

“She’s organized, has thorough expectations for those around her, coming into this to establish good relationships with her players,” Drew said.

For Jozefick, those relationships and moments of growth are what coaching is all about. 

“I expect a lot out of the athletes who play for me, but I don’t expect the unimaginable,” Jozefick said. “We set goals together, and if we’re not hitting them, my staff and I will let them know. But I like a very open environment. If a player doesnt understand something or sees something that will help us, I want them to voice it.”

While championships remain a long-term goal, her measure of success goes beyond the scoreboard.

 “We all want to say our main goal is a championship and of course it is, but I also want these girls to keep or rediscover their love for basketball,” Jozefick said. “I want them to enjoy coming to practice, to grow as athletes and as young women who are ready for what’s next for Jonathan Law.”