Piedmont University Athletics

John Winters enters his fourth season with the Piedmont softball program in the fall of 2021 after joining the program as an assistant coach in the summer of 2018. Winters joined the Piedmont staff after spending a year at Francis Marion University as an Assistant Softball Coach for the Patriots.

In 2021, Winters helped guide a Piedmont offense that consistently produced runs and allowed the team to capture the USA South West Division Regular Season and USA South Tournament Championships. Winters helped junior outfielder Katelyn Perry take home USA South Player of the Year honors as well as earn a spot on the NFCA All-Atlantic Region Team. 
 
The Lady Lions posted a 6-7 mark in 2020 during the COVID-19 shortened season with wins over the #3 and #13 teams in the country. Piedmont also had a player named Louisville Slugger/NFCA National DIII Player of the Week when Micaela Quesada went 7-for-16 (.438) for the tournament with three homers, four walks and 10 RBI. All three home runs came against NFCA top-13 teams in Christopher Newport, Rowan and Randolph-Macon. 

Winters helped guide the Lady Lions to a 31-12 mark in 2019 including the team hosting its first NCAA Regional earning a regional finals appearance. 

During his time at Francis Marion, Winters worked directly with the hitters, outfielders and base runners on development and fundamentals. In the 2018 seasons, Winters helped the team to an improved team batting average of .314 and produced a Peach Belt all-conference player.
 
Winters also identified and evaluated prospective student athletes while organizing recruiting visits, tours, and prospect camps.
 
He began his collegiate coaching career as a Graduate Assistant Softball Coach at the University of West Georgia where he coached during the 2016 and 2017 seasons. At West Georgia, Winters led the infield and hitters and served as the third base coach during contests.
 
The 2017 season was the greatest offensive statistical season in the program’s history as Winters helped lead the Wolves to a 29-24 record. Winters produced the Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Year and an additional first team all-conference selection.
 
Winters graduated from the University of Georgia in 2015 with a bachelor’s of science in Biology and earned his master’s of science in biology from the University of West Georgia in 2017.
 
He is originally from McDonough, Ga. and will assist Head Coach Terry Martin in all facets of the Lions softball program.

Last updated 7/21