Mike Johnson will begin his fifth season as an assistant coach with the Norfolk State softball team in 2022. He has served on a coaching staff that has turned around the program in just a few short years. NSU has gone 33-19 in the MEAC during his time with the program.
Most recently, the Spartans placed second in the MEAC Northern Division at 12-7 in 2021 with a 20-19 overall mark. It marked the second winning overall record for the Spartans since Johnson joined the staff. A total of six players were named All-MEAC, including first-team honorees Jazzmaine Hammond, Gabby Vaughan and Tuli Iosefa. Kirsten Greene and Denisha Megginson (second team) and Imani Moore (third team) gave NSU its most all-conference players since 2014.
Johnson’s second year in 2019 saw the Spartans capture the MEAC Northern Division title at 11-4. It marked the program’s first regular season title in the league. In addition, NSU went 25-20 overall for its first winning record in six years. Kylee Lopez, Shelby DesChamps, Hunter Halford and Skylar Swain were each named All-MEAC, with Lopez and DesChamps earning VaSID All-State accolades for the second year in a row.
The Spartans finished 10-8 in the MEAC and tied for third in the Northern Division in Johnson’s first season in 2018. NSU also improved its win total by nine, while Lopez, Halford and Jaylene Pryor each earned All-MEAC status.
Johnson’s third year as assistant coach in 2020 was cut short after March 12 due to COVID-19, less than halfway through the season.
Johnson spent a combined 12 years as the head JV coach at both Deep Creek and Woodrow Wilson high schools. He also coached at the AAU level for more than 25 years. He played center field and shortstop on the men’s fastpitch team from 1975-76 while a member of the U.S. Army.
