Christy Johnson Named Head Coach at Iowa State
December 17, 2004 | Volleyball
Christy Johnson, an assistant volleyball coach at the University of Wisconsin has been named the head women's volleyball coach at Iowa State, Cyclone athletics director Bruce Van De Velde announced today.
Johnson, 31, has been an assistant coach with the Badgers for eight years. She coached in the 2000 NCAA Division I Championship game and three regional finals (final eight) at Wisconsin as an assistant to head coaches John Cook (1997-99) and Pete Waite (1999-present).Wisconsin was 22-10 in 2004 and came within one match of the Final Four before losing to Stanford this month in a regional final. Johnson's tenure in Madison includes coaching on three Big Ten championship teams. The Badgers have compiled an overall record of 212-54 (.797) with Johnson as an assistant coach.
'We are all very sad to see Christy go, but I'm happy that she has this opportunity to become a head coach and run her own program,' said Waite. 'I know she was very happy here, but this move gets her closer to her family in Omaha. We all wish Christy the best of luck at Iowa State. I know she'll do well. '
Johnson guided setter Lizzy Fitzgerald to two AVCA All-America honors and a spot on the U.S. National Team roster. She also coached setter Morgan Shields to All-America honors in 2002. Wisconsin setter Jackie Simpson made the Big 10 All-Freshman team this season.
"We are thrilled to have one of the top young coaches in the country coming to Iowa State with such wide-ranging experience as a player and a coach," Van De Velde said. "(ISU senior associate athletic director) Calli Sanders and the search committee did a great job."
Johnson's experience in the NCAA Tournament goes back to her days as one of the greatest players in Nebraska history. She earned All-America honors for the Huskers in 1994 and 1995. Johnson was the starting setter on the 1995 Nebraska team that won the NCAA championship. The Huskers made four NCAA tournament appearances and won three Big Eight titles during Johnson's collegiate career. A two-time all-district selection and two-time all-Big Eight Conference honoree, Johnson was also named to the 1995 NCAA Championship all-tournament team, the 1994 and 1995 NCAA Regional all-tournament team, and the 1994 and 1995 Big Eight Conference all-tournament teams. In addition to her athletic honors, Johnson was a 1995 second-team Academic All-American and a three-time Academic All-Big Eight honoree.
"Iowa State has made a commitment to volleyball and the more I talked with Bruce (Van De Velde) and Calli (Sanders) the more I saw that this is a special opportunity," Johnson said. "I look forward to working with everyone at Iowa State to further the success of Cyclone volleyball."
Johnson has international experience as a member of the 1989 U.S. Junior National team and as a member of the 1993 U.S. National "B" Team. She played with the Nebraska Tornadoes of the National Volleyball Association for two seasons, leading the Tornadoes to the league championship in 1998.
A 1996 graduate of Nebraska with a bachelor's degree in education, Johnson spent one year coaching at Millard North High School in her hometown of Omaha, Neb. She also served as a coach in the River City Juniors Volleyball Club program for two years.
Johnson replaces Linda Crum, who resigned earlier this month.
A national search for Johnson's replacement at Wisconsin will begin immediately.
Johnson's comments from a news conference today can be found at the Iowa State web site .
