St. John's University Athletics
Joanne Persico Honored with 2024 St. John’s Vincentian Mission Award
9/27/2024 10:13:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Persico was honored at the Vincentian Convocation on Thursday for her dedication and service to St. John’s and its Vincentian Mission
QUEENS, N.Y. – St. John's Volleyball Head Coach Joanne Persico was honored with the 2024 St. John's Vincentian Mission Award at the Vincentian Convocation on Thursday.
Members of the St. John's community gathered at St. Thomas More Church to celebrate and reflect upon the university's Vincentian mission as well as honor outstanding individuals who exemplify St. Vincent's legacy.
The Vincentian Mission Award is given to a member of the university's faculty, staff or administration who has demonstrated a commitment to St. John's Vincentian Mission.
All honorees must be a full-time member of the university for a minimum of six years, have a personal commitment to the university's mission through active and sustained service to others and have participated in programs that foster development of a social consciousness that emphasizes the dignity and worth of all individuals.
Persico, the only head coach in the volleyball program's history, has fostered the Vincentian mission in all her student-athletes throughout her 31-year tenure at St. John's. As the architect of the Red Storm volleyball program, Persico has earned 580 wins across her career, which ranks 15th among active head coaches and paces the BIG EAST.
The legendary coach and her volleyball program have engaged in community service efforts with their annual Dig for a Cure Pink Game dedicated to breast cancer awareness. The team also worked with the Ronald McDonald House Charity while helping in food pantries in both Queens and when on the road.
Persico also organizes and runs annual youth volleyball clinics at St. John's with her team and fellow coaches. Her goal with the camp is to foster love and commitment to the game of volleyball through practice and teaching during her summer and winter clinic sessions.
The BIG EAST Coach of the Year has spent countless hours building a volleyball community for youth players. She is currently a member of the CYO board and has previously served as the Vice President, helping to bring volleyball to youth players around New York. In addition, Perisico serves on the Board of Trustees at her alma mater, St. Francis Prep, making sure to give back to the students in her local Queens Community.
In her free time, Persico volunteers to sing and play music at nursing homes throughout Queens and New York. She also performs at university events and convocations at St. Thomas More Church.
The winningest head coach in BIG EAST history has totaled 13 20-win seasons, three NCAA Tournament berths (2006, 2007 and 2019), three BIG EAST Regular Season Championships (2006, 2007 and 2008) and two BIG EAST Tournament Titles (2007 and 2019) across her illustrious career. She has been named the BIG EAST Coach of the Year three times (2006, 2017 and 2023) and the AVCA Regional Coach of the Year twice (2006 and 2023). Persico has also been recognized nationally as the College Volleyball Update Honorable Mention Coach of the Year in 2006 and 2007.
Persico has mentored 45 All-BIG EAST selections and 14 AVCA All-Region members. She has also coached one AVCA All-American, three BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, four BIG EAST Liberos of the Year and four BIG EAST Players of the Year.
Persico also holds high academic standards for her team, racking up 18 AVCA Team Academic Awards throughout her 31 years of service. Her program has also earned a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher during 29 of her 30 completed seasons as head coach.
Persico has been inducted into Syracuse's Orange Plus Hall of Fame, the Catholic High School Athletics Hall of Fame, the St. Francis Prep High School Hall of Fame and the St. Francis Prep Ring of Honor.
To learn more about the St. John's Vincentian Mission Award and the Vincentian Convocation, visit its website by clicking here.
