2026 Softball interview with Head Coach Joe Abraham from Olentangy Liberty

 

Joe Abraham

Olentangy Liberty High School - Powell, Ohio

Head Softball Coach

College

Undergrad - Ohio State

Law School - Capital

Could you share with the readers your coaching tree, from first job to current job?

1996 - Worthington Spirit 14-U

1997 - Worthington Spirit 16-U, Upper Arlington Hastings 7th grade

1998 - Buckeye Heat 14-U; Worthington Worthingway Middle School

1999 - Buckeye Heat 16-U

2000 - Buckeye Heat 16-U; Dublin Coffman (Asst. Varsity)

2001 - Buckeye Heat 16-U; Dublin Coffman (Asst. Varsity)

2002 - Buckeye Heat 18-U; Dublin Scioto (Asst. Varsity)

2003-2008 - Buckeye Heat 14-U, 16-U, and 18-U; Thomas Worthington (Head Varsity)

2009-2011 - Whitworth Univ. (Head Coach)

2012-2018 - Hillsdale College (Head Coach)

2019-2022 - Univ. of Toledo (Head Coach)

2023-2025 - Ohio Outlaws 16-U and 18-U

2025 - current - Olentangy Liberty (Head Coach)

 

Who are some of the coaches that you have learned the most from?

In softball, Mike Larabee (Head Coach, Florida International Univ.) has always been a mentor and is the person who got me started in college coaching. Mostly I have learned indirectly from coaches in all sports, just watching, reading, and studying. John Wooden, Jim Tressel, and several others are coaches I try to steal from.

What was the biggest reason you left coaching at college to come to the high school level?

I retired from college coaching. I didn't start coaching high school until being out of college coaching for a few years. I knew as I got closer to 60 that I wanted to move back to Columbus and didn't feel like moving around the country any longer. I give hitting lessons about 20 hours per week, so I'm semi-retired. Living back at home, coaching high school and traveling, and still making my living in softball is a good life for me.

What was the best part of the 2025 season?

For the team, winning the OCC Central was great. For me personally, just getting back into coaching high school after 17 years away was a lot of fun. I'm always competitive, so my motor runs hot, but it was just great for me to just coach without your livelihood being on the line.

What shocked you the most from the 2025 season?

Great question. What surprised me was the gap between the top players at most schools and everyone else. The top 20% of players have gotten much better in the past 20 years, but roughly the bottom half of high school varsity teams have regressed. With more sports being offered and top travel organizations playing more regionally and nationally, that next tier of players seems to have somewhat disappeared. Everyone used to have solid JV teams and even freshman teams. With schools that aren't traditional softball powers and that have added lacrosse, field hockey, and many other offerings, the athletes are more spread out, and JV teams are not nearly what they were in the past.

How do you go about choosing your captains?

We just do a team vote. No involvement from the coaches. Coaches are always tempted to choose at least one, but players might not respect that method.

Do you feel every team should make the state tournament? Explain

Yes. With a single-elimination format and being able to play two or three times per week with no problem, it's not hard to include all teams. It gives everyone something to look forward to and keeps players on losing teams interested. Also, teams that have early-season injuries don't necessarily have their seasons ruined by those injuries.

As the head coach, can you share with the readers some of the things that you do to help your players get recruited?

It helps to know and be trusted by college coaches. You don't have to have coached in college to earn that trust, but a coach needs to be honest and realistic in gauging at what level a girl can play in college. It comes down mainly to finding out what schools your players are interested in, helping them decide if their goals are reachable, and then guiding them on the things they need to do to have a chance to be seen by those colleges. At the right time, I will reach out to the college coaches and give an optimistic but realistic view on our players.

What is the toughest part of being a high school softball coach?

By far, the ancillary stuff. State requirements are never-ending and out of control, raising money is never fun, and then just going through the hoops to get assistants hired is frustrating.

With the weather still pretty cold in March, should the season start later?

I have mixed feelings. One week later would give us better weather, but good players are ready to get their travel season going by early June, and I'd hate to delay that further. After playing games in Toledo in early March, playing in Columbus in late March is pretty easy.

What has to happen to get more fans coming to games?

Outside of football and maybe basketball, other high school sports just aren't going to draw many fans. The one thing we've done at Liberty is to add two Friday night games in late April and early May, which we can do because we have lights. We'll get the middle school girls and hopefully some of the community out to Friday night games.

I have asked many players this but never a coach. How important is it to you that the team not only gets along on the field but off of it too?

It is important mainly because it makes it more fun for everyone. It does contribute to helping the team win because players are much more likely to buy in to their roles when everyone gets along and to support each other through tough times. However, teams that don't get along can win. I've won and lost with teams that get along and don't get along. Camaraderie and cohesion are important, but they are slightly overrated when it comes to softball.

Outside of coaching, what are you doing for fun?

Not much. I suppose my hobby has developed into listening to and learning about music I like. I read books, watch YouTube documentaries, and just listen quite a bit. I might be qualified at this point to teach a class on the history of rock and roll, and I'm learning more and more about traditional and outlaw country music.

What is a skill or talent that you have that might shock your team?

It's all old man stuff, so none of it would probably shock them. I'm still pretty good at pinball. I grew up playing a ton of pinball, and once I get a feel for a machine, I can play it all day. And back in the day I could play Frogger all day on one quarter.

Where is the best local spot to grab a meal?

Any place that buys a banner on our outfield fence. I'm afraid to answer because I don't want to leave any of ours or the school's sponsors out. My late mom loved Vittoria.

 Follow me on X @HEARTLANDFAN15