João Paulo (JP) Batista is the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for Gonzaga University’s women’s basketball program.
Batista returned to Gonzaga in 2022 following a 16-year professional playing career in elite leagues across Europe and South America. His collegiate career began at Western Nebraska Community College, where he competed as a freshman before transferring to Barton County Community College. As a sophomore, Batista earned JUCO All-American honors, establishing himself as one of the nation’s top junior college players.
Batista transferred to Gonzaga University and played from 2004–06, becoming one of the most efficient frontcourt players in program history. As a junior during the 2004–05 season, he averaged 12.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game while shooting better than 60 percent from the field, earning West Coast Conference Newcomer of the Year honors. During the 2005–06 season, he started all 33 games and averaged 19.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game while shooting nearly 59 percent from the field and 83 percent from the free-throw line. He earned First Team All-West Coast Conference honors and was named an Honorable Mention All-American. Batista helpedGonzaga capture the WCC regular-season championship and advance to the Sweet 16 of the 2006 NCAA Tournament. He was later named Gonzaga University’s Male Athlete of the Year.
Following his collegiate career, Batista played professionally for clubs including Lietuvos Rytas (Lithuania), Barons Riga (Latvia), Le Mans Sarthe and Limoges CSP (France), and Flamengo, Mogi das Cruzes, and Minas Tênis Clube (Brazil). Over his career, he won multiple national and international championships, including the FIBA Intercontinental Cup, Brazilian League titles, the French Cup, the Leaders Cup, the FIBA EuroCup, the Latvian National Championship with Barons Riga, and the French National Championship with Limoges CSP. Batista also represented Brazil’s National Team, winning gold medals at the Pan American Games and the FIBA South American Championship, and competing in the 2010 FIBA World Cup in Istanbul, Turkey.
Batista applies his extensive playing experience alongside evidence-based training principles to support athlete development, injury prevention, and long-term durability. He works closely with the women’s basketball coaching staff to align strength, conditioning, and recovery strategies with the demands of high-level collegiate competition.
Batista earned a bachelor’s degree in Sports Management (2006) and a master’s degree in Sports and Athletic Administration (2025) from Gonzaga University. He holds certifications as a NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist, Precision Nutrition Level 1, and Gray Institute 3D MAPS (Foundations and Functional Techniques), and maintains current CPR and First Aid certification. Fluent in English, Portuguese, Spanish, and French, Batista is committed to mentoring student-athletes from diverse and international backgrounds.
Personal: Batista and his wife, Simone, have been married for 18 years and are the parents of two daughters, Vitoria (16) and Vanessa (13).
