​WILLMAR — The choice facing Jordyn Swoboda was extraordinarily difficult. After a single season as Ridgewater College’s head softball coach and three years with the program, she made the tough decision to resign. “I wanted to stay,” Swoboda said, “but I simply couldn’t continue coaching while holding my full-time job.”
Swoboda works as a marketing strategist and multimedia manager for St. John’s University and the College of St. Benedict, based in Collegeville. The long commute to Ridgewater proved burdensome for the Willmar High School graduate, complicating her ability to devote the time and energy needed to build the program the way she envisioned. “It’s not just a spring job,” she noted, highlighting that recruiting, scheduling, and managing practices required year-round commitment.
Reflecting on the decision, Swoboda explained that she initially hoped to balance both roles, but ultimately she had to make a choice. “I actually struggled to make the job what I wanted it to be,” she admitted. The conclusion was clear: she needed to step away.
At the end of the season, Swoboda informed assistant coach Morgan Flann of her resignation. She expressed strong confidence in Flann’s ability to continue advancing the program. The most difficult moment, she recalled, was telling the team. Swoboda had developed close relationships with the players and genuinely enjoyed coaching them.
During Swoboda’s tenure, Ridgewater posted a 9-14 record and earned a berth in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference South Division playoffs. The Warriors were eliminated in a best-of-three series by Central Lakes College in Brainerd, falling two games to one in a contest that featured the heavily favored opponent. The season concluded with a roster that included ten first-year players, and there was optimism that strong recruiting would position Ridgewater among the MCAC’s elite. Swoboda expressed faith that Flann would uphold that trajectory. “She’s someone who, both career-wise and academically, has the time and the passion to make it work,” Swoboda said.
A Willmar High School alumna, Swoboda found fulfillment in her role at Ridgewater and in coaching itself. She stressed that she isn’t ready to abandon coaching altogether. “I definitely will find a way to get back into it,” she affirmed. “I loved the girls, and I believed in them, and I hope they have a fantastic season next year. I’m excited to follow them and see what Morgan can do with the program.”
Swoboda arrives at Ridgewater after two seasons serving as an assistant to head coach Callie Danielson, who stepped down after the 2025 season. Danielson had been the pitching coach at St. Benedict, where Swoboda played. The connection to Willmar’s softball history runs deep: Danielson’s father, Guy Nelsen, was the long-time Willmar High School head softball coach, guiding the Cardinals for 24 seasons and securing eight Central Lakes Conference titles and five section titles. He also led Willmar to a second-place finish and two third-place finishes at the state tournament before retiring in 2006.
“Overall, it was a great three years at Ridgewater,” Swoboda reflected. She leaves with gratitude for the experiences, the players, and the coaching staff, and she remains optimistic about the program’s future as Flann takes the helm and Ridgewater continues striving to reach the top tier of the MCAC.