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Fastpitch Coaching Staff
Our coaching staff encourages our athletes to contact their coach directly with questions, concerns, or to relay messages. Learning to communicate with adults is an important life skill and we welcome that interaction with all of our athletes. Parents may also contact their daughter's coach with any questions.
You may email any coach by clicking on their picture or name below. Click here to send an email to the jmfastpitch@gmail general account.
You may leave a message for one of the coaches by calling the John Marshall Athletic office at 507-328-5330. For general questions about JM Athletics please contact the Athletic Director Brian Ihrke.
Thang Nguyen
(Varsity Head Coach)
In 2025 Coach Nguyen will be in his 24th year as the Varsity Head Coach and 31st year overall with the John Marshall softball program. Coach Nguyen is JM's all time winningest softball coach with an overall total of 233 wins, including a career best 19-6 record in 2012. Coach Nguyen earned Big Nine Coach of the Year honors in 2013 and 2012, and the team claimed consecutive Section 1AAA runner-up finishes in 2012 & 2011. The Rockets finished in the Final 4 for Section 1AAAA in the 2018 - 2021 seasons.
507-398-3408 (cell)
Coach Nguyen is a health teacher at JM and an assistant coach for JM Football. A 1987 graduate of John Marshall, Thang received his Health Education degree from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse where he ran track.
Thang is married to wife Sarah, and has three sons; Marcus (John Marshall graduate), Maxwell (John Marshall student), and Mason (John Marshall student).
Don Jochum
(Varsity Asst Coach)
Coach Jochum is in his 17th year with the JM softball program, including 14 seasons as the JV head coach. Coach Jochum has coached summer RYFSA teams for many years and previously served as the RYFSA president.
Don is married to wife Beth and has three kids; Jordan (JM graduate), Haley (JM Softball graduate), and Ashley (JM Softball graduate).
507-951-1631 (cell)
James Keller
(JV/B/C-Squad Coach)
James is in his 2nd year with the JM coaching staff, serving as coach for the JV and B/C Squad (7th - 10th grade). James also coaches for SE Minnesota Flyers club program, serves on the RYFSA softball board, and has coached RYFSA summer teams in the past.
James is a graduate of Byron High School and currently is the owner of Keller Tattoo. James' daughter Ava currently plays on the JM Varsity softball team.
507-358-7983 (cell)
Alyssa Garrido
(JV/B/C-Squad Coach)
Alyssa is in her first year with the JM coaching staff and will be working with our JV and B/C teams. Alyssa has coached for RYFSA the last 6 years and will be coaching again this summer. She is also an RYFSA board member, serving as the Fall Ball Director and 12U Age Coordinator.
Alyssa works in the Rochester school district as a clerical substitute. Alyssa is a graduate of Century High School, where she played softball during her high school career. She is married to Mike Batt and has two kids, Annie (4th grade) and Rylie (7th grade, currently on the JM team).
507-272-4272 (cell)
Mike Breitbach
(Assistant Coach)
Mike has been an assistant/volunteer coach with the JM Softball program for the last 24 seasons, the last 21 years with the Varsity team. Mike works as a senior software engineer with IBM (35+ years) and has also coached summer fastpitch through RYFSA the last 25+ seasons.
Outside of work and softball, Mike is an avid Iowa Hawkeye supporter (alum) and a season ticket holder for Iowa football, basketball, and softball.
Mike is married to wife Valerie and has two daughters who graduated from JM; Kate (JM Softball alum) and Betsy. He also has two grandchildren, Thea (age 6) and Wesley (age 1).
507-358-7115 (cell)
Mike Archer
(Assistant Coach)
Mike is in his first year as a volunteer assistant with the JM Softball program. He is entering his 25th year coaching Girls' sports. Mike was an Assistant Coach with the Girls' basketball Program and an Assistant/Head Coach with the Volleyball program at John Marshall. Mike was an Assistant/JV Coach at Wabasha-Kellogg, where he was part of a Sub-Section, Section Championship in 2022, State Berth in 2022, and Sub-Section Championship in 2023.
Mike is a Subparaprofessional in the Red Wing and Wabasha-Kellogg School Districts. He is also an Assistant Coach with Century Volleyball and the Head Girls' Basketball Coach at Wabasha-Kellogg.
Mike lives in Pine Island and has two children, a son Tony, and a daughter Mary. He also has a grandson Karsen.
507-259-2470 (cell)
Alexa Johnson
(Volunteer Asst Coach)
Alexa is in her second year as a volunteer with the JM Softball team, working with our B/C-Squad. Alexa grew up in Rochester and began playing softball at age 11 thru RYFSA. She joined the JM softball team as an 8th grader and she played thru graduation in 2023 -- primarily as an outfielder.
Since graduation she has spent the last two summers coaching RYFSA summer teams. Alexa works as the front desk manager at R!ah Hair Studio.
507-271-1516 (cell)
507-358-6421 (cell)
Halle Squires
(Volunteer Asst Coach)
Halle is in her second year as a volunteer with the JM Softball team, working with our B/C-Squad. Halle grew up in Rochester and began playing softball at age 11 and has enjoyed it ever since. Halle is a JM graduate and JM Softball alum. She joined the JM softball team as an 7th grader until she graduated in 2023.
Since graduation she has spent the last two summers coaching RYFSA summer teams. Halle works as a server at Tildas Pizzeria.
