Tonya Johnson Explained

Tonya Johnson
Current Title:Head coach
Current Team:LSU
Current Conference:SEC
Current Record:26–31
Contract:$250,000.00[1]
Birth Date:1 September 1969
Birth Place:Zachary, Louisiana
Alma Mater:Louisiana State University
Player Years1:1987–1990
Player Team1:LSU
Coach Years1:1995–1997
Coach Team1:Kentucky (Assistant)
Coach Years2:1998–2003
Coach Team2:LSU (Assistant)
Coach Years3:2003–2008
Coach Team3:Texas (Assistant)
Coach Years4:2009–2013
Coach Team4:Georgia Tech
Coach Years5:2014–2021
Coach Team5:Texas (Associate HC)
Coach Years6:2022–
Coach Team6:LSU
Overall Record:105–86

Tonya Doral Johnson (born September 1, 1969) is an American volleyball coach and former player. She has been the head coach of the LSU women's volleyball team since 2022.

Personal life

Johnson was born on September 1, 1969, in Zachary, Louisiana.[2] She played both volleyball and basketball at Zachary High School before ultimately focusing on volleyball.[3]

Playing career

Johnson played volleyball at LSU from 1987-90, helping the Tigers to Southeastern Conference titles in 1989 and 1990. She also helped LSU advance to its first-ever Final Four appearance in the 1990 NCAA tournament as well as a Sweet 16 appearance in 1989.

Coaching career

Johnson's first collegiate coaching role came in 1995 when she coached as an assistant at Kentucky, under then-head coach Fran Flory. In 1998, along with Flory, she returned to her alma mater when she went LSU as an assistant coach. She remained at LSU until 2003, when she moved to Texas as an assistant head coach under Jerritt Elliott.

Johnson's first collegiate head coach role began in 2009 with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. At Georgia Tech, she compiled an overall record of 85–72, with an NCAA tournament appearance in 2009. While at Georgia Tech, she was the co-head coach of USA volleyball's A2 team that won a silver medal in 2012.[4]

After leaving Georgia Tech, she returned to Texas as the associate head coach and main recruiting coordinator in 2014 under Elliott, where she would remain until the conclusion of the 2021. In her years at Texas, the team advanced to multiple NCAA final fours and won multiple Big 12 championships. Johnson is also known to be an excellent recruiter, as Johnson helped Elliott land the nation's second-ranked recruiting classes in three consecutive seasons (2006-08). Texas' 2009 recruiting class was also strong, with the signing of the top- and fifth-ranked prep players in Bailey Webster and Sha’Dare McNeal.[5]

Johnson returned to LSU as head coach in 2022 after Flory announced her retirement. She stated that she was offered the job before she left campus after her interview.[6] In her first season at LSU, she led the program to its first winning season since 2019 and qualified for the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2017, advancing to the second round after defeating HawaiʻI, before losing to Stanford in the second round.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: LSU Board of Supervisors approves contracts for new coaches. wafb.com. September 24, 2022.
  2. Web site: Tonya Johnson Texas 2008 Bio. texassports.com. September 24, 2022.
  3. Web site: TONYA JOHNSON. AVCA. September 24, 2022.
  4. Web site: Tonya Johnson Comes Home to Lead LSU Volleyball Program. LSUsports.net. September 24, 2022.
  5. Web site: Tonya Johnson 2014 Texas Bio. texassports.com. September 24, 2022.
  6. Web site: New LSU volleyball coach promises herself some grace. spokesman-recorder.com. September 24, 2022.
  7. Web site: LSU Volleyball's Historic Season Ends with an NCAA Second Round Exit at No. 5 Stanford. lsusports.net. December 13, 2022.