Patch Looks Back: Glory Days with Susan Johnson

softball coach Susan Johnson started learning to play before she was finished potty training.

"As a child, our house was on a well-traveled street,'' Johnson said.  "Friends of my parents still tell the story that they remember seeing me in my diapers playing catch with my brothers. I have four older brothers and they get the credit for athletics early in my life."

Wait a minute, isn't this the Susan Johnson who used to coach Deerfield softball?

She's back.

"I originally took a step back from coaching at Deerfield because of my move to an administrative position,'' she said. "I needed to be sure I could do it all – be a mom/wife, teacher, administrator and coach and attempt to do all jobs well. I really missed coaching at the varsity level and taking care of a program of athletes. The Deerfield program is a softball family, and I missed that connection to 50 kids."

In her first run as Deerfield softball coach, she had a talented catcher named .

"I have so much respect for her as a coach,'' Kreiter said. "I kept in touch with her throughout college and she became more than just a past coach. I looked to her for some guidance in certain aspects of my life."

The first part of Johnson's athletic life was played out on softball fields and basketball and volleyball courts. But softball was her first love, and she made a quick impression at the high school.

"As a freshman at Deerfield, I made varsity,'' Johnson said. "In the past 30 years, only five athletes have done that, so I guess that was pretty good. In high school I played shortstop."

Her maiden name was Koopman, and Susan Koopman wasn't satisfied with just playing shortstop.

"Prior to my junior season in high school, I learned to pitch,'' she said. "We only had one pitcher. She was great, but could not throw the whole season, so I learned to pitch. I love being a team player and wanted to do anything I could to help our team."

Johnson threw hard and fast, but didn't have much control in those early outings.

"In my first game I believe I hit most batters once, and some of them twice," Johnson said "It actually motivated me to work harder because I did not like giving up those free bases."

The starting shortstop at Deerfield began to get noticed. She was ready to play college softball and her graduation in 1981 coincided with an increase in respect for women's sports.

"I had looked at Indiana University, a school in Missouri, and was set to attend Northern Illinois, when my high school coach heard from Northwestern,'' she said. " head coach Sharon Drysdale had heard about me from a local umpire who worked both high school and college games. Unbeknownst to me, she attended a practice and one of our double headers. She offered me a scholarship and the rest is history."

Her first season, the Wildcats won a Big 10 title.

"That was exciting because I don’t believe they had a .500 season prior to that,'' she said.

Northwestern's team included All-American shortstop Sue Hebson. That meant Johnson would have to find another position. Johnson and Hebson were reunited at Deerfield years later.

She moved to first base and played the position all four years. The last two seasons, her club reached the College World Series, finishing third and fifth.

"To me, when softball was over, college was over,'' Johnson said. "Upon returning to NU, the hardest was to clean out my locker and take my name plate. I did not shed a tear at graduation, I had flooded our locker-room a week prior. Softball meant so much to me, and not just because we were successful. As teammates, we were friends and had fun working together and competing together. With our coaches at the helm, we were a family."

Johnson returned to her beloved Deerfield and began her coaching career.

"I enjoy being a role model for the girls,'' she said. "I value the learning that occurs, and not just skill development. While skill development is important, I love when they learn to set goals, win and lose with grace, and learn to put the needs of the team first. Those are the things that stick with them throughout their lives."

There may not be a bigger fan of Deerfield High School than Johnson.

"Seriously, I bleed Warrior Red,'' Johnson said. "It is a great school and I am proud to be a graduate. Academically it is a wonderful school, and it really is a great place to teach and coach. I love the culture and believe in what we value. We work hard and take care of each other."

Kreiter has started coaching in the Deerfield program as well.

"I tell my players all the time to wear the Deerfield Warriors name with a sense of pride,'' Kreiter said. "And that is to play the game hard but always be respectful and show some class. That's all coach Johnson."