Former Tiger Tonya Johnson hired as volleyball coach

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BATON ROUGE – Tonya Johnson, who helped LSU to a pair of Southeastern Conference titles and the 1990 Final Four as a player, is returning to her alma mater as head coach of the Tiger volleyball team, director of athletics Scott Woodward announced on Wednesday.

Johnson, a four-year letterwinner for the Tigers from 1987-90, served as an assistant coach on the LSU staff from 1998-2002. The native of Zachary, La., returns to Baton Rouge after working as associate head coach and recruiting coordinator at Texas since 2014. Her recruiting efforts helped lay the foundation for Texas becoming a volleyball powerhouse during her time in Austin.

“Tonya Johnson understands the championship potential of LSU Volleyball firsthand, and we are excited she is returning home as our head coach,” said LSU Director of Athletics Scott Woodward. “She has recruited and developed elite student-athletes at every stop in her career, and she knows what it takes to compete for championships consistently. I know she will make an immediate and lasting impact on our volleyball program, and we are thrilled to have her back in Baton Rouge.”

In two stints at Texas that spanned 14 years, Johnson was part of Longhorn teams that reached the Final Four five times, including three appearances in the national championship match.

Texas claimed eight Big 12 titles during that 14-year span and compiled an overall record of 356-66 as the Longhorns advanced to the NCAA Tournament 13 times. Texas has finished its season ranked in the Top 5 in seven of the past eight years. Johnson was a four-year letterwinner at LSU from 1987-90, helping the Tigers to Southeastern Conference titles in 1989 and 1990. She led LSU to its first-ever NCAA Final Four appearance in 1990 and helped the Tigers advance to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 1989.

“It has been a lifelong dream of mine to return to LSU and lead this incredible volleyball program to new heights,” Johnson said. “I am beyond thrilled that I have been given the opportunity to make that dream a reality. The pride and passion that was instilled in me as a player and as an assistant coach has transformed my life, and those values have never left me. “I am ready to return to Louisiana – my home – and begin the process to help make our student-athletes champions, and our fans and alumni proud. Geaux Tigers!”

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