A long time resident of Orland Park, Joann has been married to her inspiring husband Al for 48 years. She has two children, Erik and Kristen, and two grandchildren, Gianna and Finn. Family has always been the most important part of her life.

A stay at home Mom, when her children were small, Joann taught part time at Greenwood Elementary school and St. Xavier University. Prior to beginning her career at Sandburg as a Physical Education Teacher in 1993, Joann was the Fitness and Wellness Director at South Suburban College.

A Head Varsity Girls and Boys Volleyball Coach for 24 years, Joann has coached at Thornwood, Sandburg, and Lincoln-Way Central High School. She served as Vice President of the Illinois High School Coaches Association for 5 years.

Coach Holverson began coaching girls at Sandburg in 1993, and coaching boys in 1997 after assisting Coach Wayne O’Brien to the first Sandburg Boys Volleyball State Championship in 1996.

Winning 3 State Championships, Coach Holverson was the first coach in Illinois to win both a Girls and Boys State Championship in the same school year (1998-1999).

From 1997 through 2001, her teams finished first or second in the state series every year: 1997 Boys (2nd), 1998 Girls (State Champions), 1999 Boys (State Champions), 2000 Boys (State Champions), 2000 Girls (2nd), 2001 Boys (2nd).

Her coaching record at Sandburg was 208-25 for the Boys, and 232-106 for the Girls teams. Her 24 year career coaching record was: Boys 451-157, Girls 424-293.

Named 1998 Illinois Girls Coaches Association Coach of the Year, and 2001 Daily Southtown Coach of the Year, she was honored to be named to the inaugural Hall of Fame of both the Illinois High School Volleyball Coaches Association and MaxPrep Coaches Hall of Fame.

Coach Holverson is grateful for the opportunities she received at Sandburg, and thanks her assistant coaches, teaching colleagues, administration, parents and athletes for their efforts and support of the Volleyball programs.