Building Softball Players to Elite Status

ABOUT US

Stephanie Johnson leads with the same powerful energy whether she’s coaching young athletes on the softball field or guiding executive teams in the boardroom. As the Head Coach for Smokeshow Elite TN 18U and the CEO of Acklen Avenue, she embodies leadership that is strong, purposeful, and deeply invested in people.

ON THE FIELD

Coach Stephanie is the steady voice, the motivator, and the mentor. She develops young women into confident athletes who understand discipline, strategy, and the mental toughness required to compete at the next level.

She doesn’t just teach softball — she teaches character, becoming the leader who protects them, pushes them, and believes in them in ways that reshape their confidence on and off the field.

off the field

Stephanie transitions seamlessly into her role as a seasoned CEO. With over 20 years of executive experience, she leads high-performing teams with the same clarity, accountability, and heart she brings to her athletes. Whether she’s coaching teenagers or executives, her philosophy is unchanged: develop people, set a high standard, and lead by example.

Stephanie is known for creating environments where people feel seen, supported, and challenged to grow. Her approach blends advanced softball strategy with business-level leadership skills — situational awareness, mental resilience, teamwork, and high expectations. The young women she coaches learn how to compete. The adults she leads learn how to lead.

When she’s not mentoring athletes or guiding executive teams, you’ll find her outdoors tending her two-acre garden, cheering on her family, or continuing her legendary lawn-mower rivalry with her husband.

Under Stephanie’s leadership, Smokeshow Elite TN 18U is more than a softball team — it’s a community built on excellence, trust, and the belief that strong women create strong futures.