At first glance, Joz Carrillo’s recruitment to play Division 1 softball at South Dakota State University appears to be accidental. Her older brother submitted pitching videos to get on the baseball coach’s radar. He used Joz as his catcher. When coaches asked about who was catching for him, he didn’t hesitate to sing his sister’s praises, which caught the attention of the softball program. Thus began a journey that would change Joz’s life for eternity.
One of seven children, Joz grew up playing softball as a centerfielder and catcher. Living in California, she took advantage of the favorable California weather and played year-round.
As for faith, her family believed in God, but it wasn’t a regular topic of conversation. “We never really displayed what our relationship with Him looked like,” Joz shared. With seven children, all of whom played baseball or softball, there certainly didn’t seem to be time for church activities either.
Joz chose to play softball at South Dakota State because she saw herself growing in the sports environment. She admits now she was unprepared for the transition.
“College athletics was really humbling,” she acknowledged. “I felt lost because I placed my identity in my sport and how successful I was. Starting college brought a lot of insecurity and a bit of hopelessness and fear."
Not to mention she was thousands of miles away from the comforts of family and friends.
When she told an older teammate she was struggling, she was surprised at her response.
“I was expecting her to say, ‘You’re amazing. Everything’s going to be perfect.’”
Instead, her teammate invited Joz to FCA.
Joz was hesitant to attend–she didn’t even own a Bible. But when she went, she fell in love with the atmosphere.
“There were people from different sports hanging out. People were sharing their personal testimonies, and it really got me thinking: If God can change their lives like that, what about me?”
The COVID-19 pandemic shut down the campus soon after, and Joz returned to California.
She grew her new faith at home, reading the Bible a friend had given her. Slowly, transformation began.
When the campus reopened, she became the FCA softball representative on their leadership team. “It challenged my faith and challenged me to help other new believers.”
She credits a deep dive into Scripture in the summer of 2022 with launching her bold spirit with teammates.
“I did a study into what a relationship with Christ, full surrender and baptism look like,” she said, getting baptized that summer surrounded by her family.
By her senior year, Joz was all in. She interned for FCA and was asked a startling question: Did she want to join staff?
Joz didn’t know that could be a possibility, and after talking with a coach who suggested she could be that person impacting someone in the same place she was, she joined FCA staff as a Representative serving South Dakota State and the softball team.
The transition from athlete to coach and her ability to minister has been amazing. “The most impactful moments of ministry are those discipleship relationships, the pouring into and seeing growth.”
“As more coaches from this one team have become engaged with FCA, we are seeing more of their athletes as well. The athletes see the change in their coach and want that.”
Joz recently returned to California as the strength and conditioning coach at California Lutheran University and is excited for continued ministry opportunities and a chance to impact her siblings now that she’s closer to home.
She is also a strength and conditioning coach for athletes ranging from middle school through college age, and she enjoys every minute of it. Between coaching sessions, she meets with athletes or coaches at coffee shops. There is never a moment she isn’t ministering, so she protects her own time in God’s Word. “You cannot lead or be effective if you are not growing yourself.”
Joz may have come in without foundational knowledge, but she holds to Romans 12:1-2:
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”
And the fruit of her faith is nothing but evidence of a life transformed.
Pray for Joz in her coaching role at Cal Lutheran and that she can continue to serve FCA in some capacity.
Pray for the South Dakota State FCA ministry for boldness as student athletes share Jesus with their teams and on campus and help them connect with FCA.
You can support the Brookings area and South Dakota State FCA by going to https://www.brookingsareafca.org/
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Photos courtesy of Joz Carillo