SAN MARCOS, Texas — Deidra Johnson has been appointed as an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator on the Texas State University women's basketball coaching staff, head coach Zenarae Antoine announced.
  
"Coach Johnson is a former DI student-athlete who has coached at all three levels — high school, JUCO & Division I — and at each stop she left positive impressions on her athletes and colleagues," said Antoine. "She is a veteran coach whose positive reputation precedes her. The work ethic she carries will extend to our student-athletes, prospects, and fans. It's a great day to be a Bobcat when you add another championship level coach to our staff."

"I am elated and very grateful for the opportunity afforded to me by Coach Z and the Bobcat family," said Johnson, who will be the Bobcats' recruiting coordinator and primarily coach guards.

"To have a chance to join and learn under the leadership of someone that I admire as a role model, respect as a competitor, and care about as a friend in Coach Z is an opportunity of a lifetime! I'm very anxious to meet and get to work with the players and staff, to continue the building efforts towards winning a championship."

Throughout Johnson's four-year coaching career at Arkansas State, she helped lead the Red Wolves to 61 victories and a Women's NIT appearance. Among the highlights in her time in Jonesboro, Ark., A-State went 27-6 overall and 19-1 in the Sun Belt Conference to win the regular-season title and earn a bid to the WNIT in 2015-16. The Red Wolves set school records for wins (27), longest winning streak (18) consecutive home wins (25) and field-goal percentage (.450) during that season.  

During her stay in Jonesboro, Ark., Johnson helped mold Khadija Brown-Haywood into a first-team all-conference selection as a senior, developed All-Sun Belt Conference selection Akasha Westbrook, turn Brittney Gill into a third-team all-conference pick and worked with Aundrea Gamble, who was the first player in Sun Belt Conference history to win three-straight Student-Athlete of the Year awards.   

Prior to Arkansas State, Johnson spent a season at Blinn College, where she helped the Buccaneers compile a 20-11 overall record and helped four players earned Division I scholarships and four more went on to play at Division II schools.  

Johnson also spent time at UTSA, where she helped Whitney Wright set the school's all-time blocked shots record, and spent two seasons at Marshall, where she helped the Thundering Herd lead the Conference-USA with a 32-percent clip from behind the 3-point arc in addition to averaging 10.5 steals a game and mentored second-team all-conference selection, Tynikki Crook. 
 
Johnson began her coaching career at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas as an assistant coach, before moving on to Chipola College in Mariana, Fla., where she helped the team to a third-place finish in the 2009 NJCAA National Basketball Championship. While at Chipola, Johnson coached 10 players who earned Division I scholarships and three went on to play professionally.   

Off the court, Johnson worked for the Boys and Girls Club of El Dorado (Ark.) and served as the Teen-Center Director for two years while also working as the SMART Girls Program Director in her final year with the organization.   

Johnson played collegiately at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, where she was named to the All-NJCAA BI-State East First Team and the All-NJCAA Regional VI First Team. She went on to conclude her college career at Oklahoma State, where she was named to the Big XII Commissioner's Honor Roll and the National Deans List while also serving as a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.  

What they are saying about Coach Deidra Johnson… 
 
"Deidra has such incredible passion for the game of basketball.  If she could spend all day every day in the gym with her team, she would do it.  She was one of the best individual skill instructors that I had during all my years of coaching.  She is also equally as passionate about being a role model and leader for everyone she has coached. I have so much respect for Coach Zenarae and what she's accomplished at Texas State so I was excited to hear that Coach D would be joining the staff!!!" 
Brian Boyer 
Former Head Women's Basketball Coach 
Arkansas State University 
 
"What a fantastic hire Coach Antoine is making by bringing Deidra Johnson in to help mentor to the young women within the women's basketball program at Texas State. I fully believe in her ability to engage and lead young women both academically and athletically. She is great at building relationships and will passionately pour into helping prepare the student-athletes both on the court and for life after basketball.  Her positive attitude and high energy level are contagious." 
Amy Williams 
Head Women's Basketball Coach 
University of Nebraska WBB 
 
"The women's basketball program at Texas State made a very strong hire in bringing Deidra Johnson on board. Her energy for uplifting the athletes she works with, and her passion for our sport are hard to beat. I'm happy for her, Coach Z, and for the women in that program."
Chanda Rigby, Ed.D
Head Coach
Troy University WBB
 
"Deidra has a true passion for recruiting, coaching and mentoring young ladies.  This is a great hire for Texas State University. "  
Johnnie Harris,  
Associate Head Women's Basketball Coach 
University of Texas WBB 
  
"What a tremendous hire for Coach Z and Texas State Women's Basketball.  Deidra's a true grinder in our game.  Her experiences as a player and as a coach will be invaluable for the Texas State program.  Deidra is a relentless recruiter, knowledgeable coach who prides herself on player development and will most importantly serve as a role model and resource for the players.  The college game is better off with Deidra back on the sidelines!!" 
Todd Schaefer 
Associate Head Women's Basketball Coach 
University of Arkansas WBB 
  
 "Deidra is great asset to the Texas State WBB staff and program. She is very knowledgeable of the game, as well as being a tenacious recruiter. Her passion to empower and mentor young women is undeniable." 
Tari Cummings
Head Women's Basketball Coach 
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith