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It hasn't taken long for Susie Johnson to settle into her role as the head coach for the UWM volleyball program. After 10 years as an assistant and associate head coach in Milwaukee, Johnson was named head coach in May of 2007, with former head coach Kathy Litzau taking the post of associate athletic director and senior woman administrator at UWM. All Johnson has done since is lead UWM to 49 wins and back-to-back regular season league titles, giving the program an incredible string of six-straight league crowns. In 2008, Johnson directed a squad that included 12 freshmen and sophomores to the top of the league standings. UWM also beat then-#18 Iowa State during non-league play and reached 20 wins for the 11th time in the last 12 years. On top of that, UWM claimed the Horizon League Tournament title and automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. Johnson also earned league coach of the year recognition for the second-straight time. During her first season as head coach, Johnson led the Panthers to a school-record 26 wins and a fifth-straight Horizon League regular season title. UWM also put together winning streaks of 14 and 12 matches during her first year. UWM has won either the regular season or tournament championship in league play in all 12 seasons Johnson has been on the staff at UWM, while seven of the last 12 Panther squads have qualified for the NCAA Tournament. A closer look reveals some astounding numbers that highlight the incredible success Johnson has been a part of with the Panthers. In her 12 seasons in Milwaukee as a head coach and assistant, UWM has compiled a 275-82 overall record. That number includes a 146-18 mark in Horizon League play and a 127-15 record in home matches. Plus, the Panthers have won 76 of their 81 home league matches with Johnson on the bench, including a current string of 37-straight. Johnson's move into the head coaching position has given her the opportunity to continue her work in the recruitment and development of the talent that has kept the Panthers on top of the Horizon League. Her efforts on the recruiting trail have led to five League Newcomers of the Year during her tenure, with Leanne Felsing (2004) and Becky Peters (2005) the most-recent UWM honorees. Plus, 14 Panther players have earned a spot on the league's all-newcomer team in the last 12 years, including Kerri Schuh and Samatha Trawitzke in 2008. Panther players have then consistently developed into the best players in the Horizon League. In her 12 seasons in Milwaukee, Johnson has coached seven League Players of the Year, with Leanne Felsing earning those accolades in 2007 after Cheryl Hegemann claimed those honors in 2006. In all, players have earned all-league honors 35 times under the direction of Johnson. The recognition for Panther players has extended far beyond the Horizon League, though. With Johnson's assistance, UWM players have earned AVCA All-America honors six times, with Felsing receiving recognition each of the last two seasons. And, Panther players have earned AVCA All-Region honors 17 times in the 12 seasons Johnson has been in Milwaukee. Johnson's background as a player was at setter, where she earned All-Big Sky and All-Northwest Region honors while at Idaho State. She has used that experience to develop a long line of successful setters, with Katie Schneider collecting all-league honors three times, Lindsey Spoden earning 2000 Midwest Region Freshman of the Year honors and 2003 Horizon League Player of the Year honors and Melissa Lange claiming all-league honors twice. In fact, each of the 10 entries on UWM's single-season assist record list have come during Johnson's tenure in Milwaukee. Johnson was also a two-time Academic All-Big Sky honoree and has helped direct the UWM volleyball team to great success in the classroom. The team has been regularly honored by the American Volleyball Coaches' Association for its grade-point average while Hegemann earned CoSIDA Academic All-America third-team honors in 2006. while Lauren Felsing captured Academic All-America second-team accolades in 2008. A native of Racine, Wis., Johnson joined the Panther staff in July of 1997 after serving as an assistant coach at Indiana State. She also worked at Idaho State and served as head coach at UW-Parkside. She lives in Racine with her husband, C.J., son Ty, daughter Josie and stepson Brody.
Success With Susie • 275-82 record in her now 12 seasons as both an assistant coach and head coach at UWM • Won 146 of 164 league matches and posted 11 20-win seasons • Panthers have earned seven NCAA Tournament berths, 10 regular season league titles and five league tournament titles • Has recruited five League Newcomers of the Year and 17 members of the All-Newcomer Team • Played at Idaho State, where she was the Big Sky Conference MVP and earned a spot on the Big Sky All-Academic Team |
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