Joanne Persico is the head volleyball coach at St. John's University in Queens, New York, and entered her 32nd season leading the program in 2025. A Queens native and the founder of St. John's volleyball, she has become one of the defining figures in the program's history, compiling 593 career victories through the 2024 season. That total ranked 15th among active head coaches and made her the winningest head coach at a single BIG EAST program. She is also recognized as the longest-tenured female coach in St. John's athletics history.
Persico's teams have established St. John's as a regular contender in the BIG EAST. Under her direction, the Red Storm won BIG EAST regular-season championships in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2020, and captured conference tournament titles in 2007 and 2019. Her program reached the NCAA Tournament in 2006, 2007, and 2019, and the 2007 team advanced to the Round of 16. St. John's has also made four appearances in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship, reaching the Fab Four in 2024. By the end of the 2024 campaign, Persico had guided the Red Storm to 14 20-win seasons.
