Tonya Johnson facts for kids
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Head coach |
| Team | LSU |
| Conference | SEC |
| Record | 26–31 (.456) |
| Annual salary | $250,000.00 |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | September 1, 1969 Zachary, Louisiana |
| Alma mater | Louisiana State University |
| Playing career | |
| 1987–1990 | LSU |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1995–1997 | Kentucky (Assistant) |
| 1998–2003 | LSU (Assistant) |
| 2003–2008 | Texas (Assistant) |
| 2009–2013 | Georgia Tech |
| 2014–2021 | Texas (Associate HC) |
| 2022– | LSU |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 105–86 (.550) |
Tonya Doral Johnson (born September 1, 1969) is an American volleyball coach and former player. She has been the head coach for the LSU women's volleyball team since 2022.
Contents
About Tonya Johnson
Tonya Johnson was born on September 1, 1969, in Zachary, Louisiana. When she was in high school at Zachary High School, she played both volleyball and basketball. Eventually, she decided to focus mainly on volleyball.
Playing Volleyball at LSU
Tonya Johnson played volleyball for LSU from 1987 to 1990. During her time as a player, she helped the LSU Tigers win the Southeastern Conference (SEC) titles in both 1989 and 1990. She also helped her team reach the Final Four in the 1990 NCAA tournament. This was the first time LSU had ever made it that far in the tournament. In 1989, her team also made it to the Sweet 16 round.
Tonya Johnson's Coaching Journey
Starting as an Assistant Coach
Tonya Johnson began her college coaching career in 1995. Her first job was as an assistant coach at Kentucky. She worked there under the head coach, Fran Flory. In 1998, she returned to her old school, LSU, also as an assistant coach with Fran Flory. She stayed at LSU until 2003. After that, she moved to Texas to be an assistant head coach for Jerritt Elliott.
First Head Coach Role at Georgia Tech
In 2009, Tonya Johnson became a head coach for the first time at Georgia Tech. While coaching at Georgia Tech, her team had a total record of 85 wins and 72 losses. They also made it to the NCAA tournament in 2009. During her time at Georgia Tech, she also helped coach the USA volleyball A2 team. This team won a silver medal in 2012.
Returning to Texas and Recruiting Success
After leaving Georgia Tech, Tonya Johnson went back to Texas in 2014. She became the associate head coach and was in charge of finding new players (recruiting coordinator). She stayed at Texas until the end of 2021. During her years at Texas, the team reached the NCAA Final Four many times. They also won several Big 12 championships.
Tonya Johnson is known for being very good at finding talented players. She helped the Texas team get some of the best new players in the country. For example, from 2006 to 2008, she helped them sign the second-best group of new players for three years in a row. In 2009, she helped sign top players like Bailey Webster and Sha’Dare McNeal.
Becoming Head Coach at LSU
In 2022, Tonya Johnson returned to LSU as the head coach. This happened after Fran Flory, the previous coach, retired. Tonya said she was offered the job right after her interview. In her first year at LSU, she led the team to a winning season. This was the first time they had a winning record since 2019. They also qualified for the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2017. They won their first game against Hawaiʻi but then lost to Stanford in the second round.
As of July 2025, Tonya Johnson continues to lead the LSU Tigers women's volleyball team.
Coaching Records Summary
Tonya Johnson has had a successful coaching career.
- At Georgia Tech (2009–2013): Her overall record was 85 wins and 72 losses.
- At LSU (2022–present): As of July 2025, her overall record is 41 wins and 43 losses.
Her total career record as a head coach is 131 wins and 115 losses.
