08/11/2026
We are excited to welcome Heather Thistle to Pope Saint John Paul II Preparatory School as our new Head High School Softball Coach.
Coach Thistle brings more than 20 years of coaching and leadership experience at the middle school, high school, travel, collegiate, and national levels. A former NCAA Division I pitcher at The College of the Holy Cross, Heather earned an invitation to the USA Silver National Team Training Core and later served as Head Coach for the USA 18U Series against Puerto Rico. She attended St. Mary's Catholic High School in Lynn, Massachusetts, where she experienced firsthand the lasting impact of faith-centered education, dedicated mentors, and competitive athletics.
Throughout her coaching career, Heather has led athletes with Athletics Mercado Gold National, TN Illusions National, TN Power, Avalanche Elite, the Bombers Organization, and most recently Beech Middle School. She is also the founder of PowHERful Performance Pitching and Tennessee Power Softball. Her experience includes player development, program leadership, college recruiting guidance, and mentoring student-athletes who have advanced to the collegiate level. She is passionate about building a championship culture rooted in faith, accountability, academic excellence, and meaningful relationships.
Beyond the softball field, Heather has built a distinguished career as a healthcare executive. She earned her graduate degree in Neurological Psychology from Endicott College's Van Loan School of Professional Studies and has devoted much of her professional life to advocating for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her servant leadership, compassion, and commitment to helping others reflect the mission and values of JPII.
Roc Batten, Senior Athletic Administrator for Strategic Development and Head HS Football Coach, shared, "At JPII, our goal is to hire coaches who inspire student-athletes to become the best version of themselves physically, mentally, and spiritually. Coach Thistle lives that mission every day. Her experience, leadership, and commitment to building meaningful relationships will have an immediate impact on our softball program. We are excited for our players to be mentored by someone who will challenge them to pursue excellence while growing as women of faith, character, and confidence."
Having called Hendersonville home for nearly a decade, Coach Thistle is excited to invest in the community she and her family proudly call home. Please join us in welcoming Coach Heather Thistle, her husband, Joshua, and their three daughters, Angelina (22), Isabella (19), and Gisella (12), to the JPII community.
We invite our JPII families, alumni, and supporters to meet Coach Thistle at a Meet and Greet on Tuesday, August 11, at 6:00 pm in the CIE. We are excited about the future of JPII Softball under Coach Thistle's leadership and look forward to the positive impact she will have on our student-athletes, our softball program, and our entire school community.
Go Knights!
