4/11/03

Tonya Johnson named Assistant Volleyball Coach at Texas

AUSTIN, Texas -- Tonya Johnson, an eight-year veteran in the Southeastern Conference, has been hired as a University of Texas women?s volleyball assistant coach, as announced Friday by UT head volleyball coach Jerritt Elliott.

Johnson, who comes to Texas from LSU, will oversee camps, travel, scouting and video breakdown as well as all aspects of strength and conditioning training. Johnson begins her duties immediately.

"We are extremely pleased to have Tonya join our staff," said Elliott, who coached the Longhorns to a 23-9 record in his second year while leading the UT program to the NCAA Tournament second round. "Her experience will have a great impact on our program. Tonya has great ties in the recruiting field, especially in the state of Texas, and she will be a major asset in our recruitment of the best student-athletes in the country. Tonya has an infectious personality which our players, our university community, supporters and recruits will enjoy. With her experience as a national volleyball semifinalist as a collegian, Tonya will be a great role model for our student-athletes."

Johnson fills the assistant coach vacancy of former two-year UT assistant coach Christy Cochran. Cochran left after the 2002 season to pursue other opportunities in her native Pennsylvania.

Johnson has served as the top volleyball assistant at her alma mater, LSU, since 1998 under Fran (Teeter) Flory (Texas ?83) where she was responsible for the majority of the Tigers? recruiting efforts. In 1995, Johnson began her collegiate coaching career at Kentucky as an assistant to Flory, who was a member of Texas? 1981 AIAW National Championship volleyball team.

The Zachary, La., native was a four-year letterwinner at LSU from 1987-1990. The Tigers won back-to-back SEC titles in 1989 and 1990. As a senior in 1990, Johnson finished her playing days with a trip to the NCAA national semifinals. Prior to joining the collegiate coaching ranks, Johnson taught at Wellington Landings Middle School in Boca Raton, Fla. while also serving as the Florida Gold Coast club team coach and as an assistant coach at Olympic Heights High School.

"I'm excited to have this great opportunity," Johnson commented. "I especially want to thank Coach Elliott and Texas Women?s Athletics Director Chris Plonsky for this terrific opportunity. I look forward to coaching at Texas with its great athletic tradition and successes and also with being a part of the Big 12 Conference, which is one of the premier conferences in the country. We are doing some exciting things with Texas Volleyball, and I am anxious to begin and help us build toward a national championship."

The Tonya Johnson File
Name: Tonya Doral Johnson
Birthdate: September 1, 1968
Hometown: Zachary, La.
College: LSU, 1993

College Playing Experience
1987-90: LSU Volleyball (outside hitter)

College Volleyball Coaching Experience
April 2003: Asssistant Coach, Texas
1998-2003: Assistant Coach, LSU
1995-97: Assistant Coach, Kentucky