Joanna Fennema is in her third season as an assistant coach with the Lady Cougar soccer program for the 2023 season.
She comes to Columbus State with a plethora of experience at the highest levels of women’s soccer. She was drafted in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) by the Boston Breakers before making her way over to the Orlando Pride. It was there she appeared in 19 matches, scoring one goal with two assists before retiring from the top league in the United States due to a chronic back injury.
From 2013-2017 Fennema spent her collegiate years playing for one of the best programs in the nation, the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. In total she appeared in 84 matches, scoring 14 goals while recording 17 assists. During her time with the Tar Heels, she helped them secure an NCAA Tournament berth in each of her five years, including a Final Four run in 2016, the Elite Eight in 2013 and two Sweet 16 appearances.
Throughout her collegiate years Jo was a 3x All-ACC selection while also being chosen to the NSCAA All-Southeast Region team. In addition to her on-field accolades, Fennema was also a star in the classroom twice making the All-ACC Academic Team on top of making the All-ACC Honor Roll four times.
Joanna has spent a handful of years involved with the U.S. National Teams, beginning back in 2009 when she played with the U.S. U15 WNT. In 2010 she was promoted to the U17 National Team and was a member of the squad that won the 2010 Nordic Cup championship. Fennema continued her U17 national team play in 2012 where the team won the CONCACAF championship in Guatemala before then playing in the World Cup in Azerbaijan. She wrapped up her WNT play in 2014 when she was a member of the U.S. U20 National Team player pool, before being one of the final cuts when the team was taken down to 21 players for the 2014 World Cup.
Fennema graduated in December of 2017 with a major in Exercise Sport Science from UNC. She currently resides in Columbus with her husband Parker and dog Lucy.
