Aaron Johnston Named UW-Green Bay Women's Basketball Head Coach
April 26, 2007
Green Bay, Wis. - University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Director of Athletics Ken Bothof announced today the hiring of Aaron Johnston as the head coach for the Phoenix women's basketball program. Johnston becomes the third head coach in the team's storied 34-year history.
"I am excited that we have someone of Aaron's caliber to lead our program," said Bothof. "We have an individual that met our players' qualifications for their coach as well as a person with the credentials that we felt would be able to take our program and build on its record of success."
"We are delighted that Coach Johnston is joining the UW-Green Bay family," said UW-Green Bay Chancellor Bruce Shepard. "Our ability to attract a coach of his caliber is firm evidence of the stature and maturity of our women's basketball program. Coach Johnston's teams have experienced high levels of success - on the court and in the classroom. He is an excellent fit not only for our women's basketball program, but for our university and community."
"It is a great opportunity for me to join the well-established Phoenix women's basketball program," said Johnston. "I appreciate the confidence extended from the leadership of UW-Green Bay and I am anxious to begin the process of adding to the wonderful foundation that is already in place."
"I greatly appreciate the leadership and hard work of Athletics Director Ken Bothof in bringing this important search to such a successful conclusion," continued Shepard. "I also would like to thank Faculty Athletic Representative Donna Ritch, Senior Woman Administrator Jeanne Stangel and our players for their wise counsel and assistance in this process."
Johnston comes to Titletown following seven successful seasons at South Dakota State University in Brookings, S.D. During his tenure with the Jackrabbits, Johnston compiled an overall record of 170-55 (.756 winning percentage), including the team's 32-3 record in 2003 on its way to the NCAA Division II national championship. For his efforts, Johnston was tabbed the 2003 Molten/Women's Division II Bulletin Coach of the Year.
This past season as part of the team's provisional Division I status, Johnston guided the Jacks to a 25-6 mark, culminating in the team's WNIT quarterfinal appearance. South Dakota State lost to eventual WNIT champion Wyoming 70-59 in Laramie, Wyo. During the team's three seasons under NCAA Divsion I provision, Johnston guided his team to a 65-22 record (.747 winning percentage) and 20-win seasons both last year and 2004-05. Notable wins include victories over BCS programs Wisconsin, Nebraska, Kentucky, Minnesota, Indiana and Colorado.
South Dakota State appeared in two other Division II Elite Eight rounds under Johnston's eye, bookending the team's title run in 2003. The team's Elite Eight appearance in 2004 would be the final trip for the Jacks, as the program began its transition to NCAA Division I the following season.
Johnston's success has not been limited to the court, as SDSU was named the WBCA academic national champions for 2005-06, an honor UW-Green Bay was awarded in 2001-02. The Jacks combined for a 3.730 team grade point average that year, which was the third consecutive year South Dakota State was included in the WBCA's elite academic listing.
Johnston's connection with the community has been verified with South Dakota State's impressive attendance marks. In 2006-07, Johnston and the Jacks attracted an average of 2,700 fans in 15 home games, including an impressive 6,053 attendants at its WNIT second round game against Indiana March 22.
In a recent publication by the NCAA commemorating the first 25 years of women's basketball success, both of UW-Green Bay's previous head coaches, Carol Hammerle and Kevin Borseth, were included for their achievements with the Phoenix. Johnston was also selected for the publication thanks to his success at South Dakota State.
Prior to his appointment as the head coach at South Dakota State, Johnston also was an assistant for the Jacks during the 1999-2000 campaign before being named interim head coach for the final six games of the season. He also was an assistant for the men's basketball program for two years and the head coach of the Jacks' golf program for the 1998-99 academic year. Johnston started his coaching career as an assistant coach at North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, N.D., in 1996-97.
A 1996 graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn., with a degree in health and physical education, the 32-year-old Johnston is a native of Pine Island, Minn. Johnston also completed his Masters' degree from South Dakota State.
Story provided by UW-Green Bay Sports Information Office.
