Olympic Gold medalist, four-time WNBA All-Star, and college basketball All-American Shannon Johnson is the newest member of the Northwestern State Lady Demon basketball staff, recently announced by head coach Jennifer Graf.
Johnson, whose hiring is pending approval of the Board of Supervisors of the University of Louisiana System, replaces Trina Frierson who left the collegiate coaching ranks in August and returned home to Vicksburg for family reasons.
Johnson, a graduate of the University of South Carolina where she earned her bachelor of science degree in retailing in 1996, was a member of the 2004 United States basketball team that won a gold medal at the Summer Olympic Games in Athens Greece. She also earned a gold medal at the World Championships that same year.
“I couldn’t be more fortunate to get somebody like Shannon,” said Lady Demon head coach Jennifer Graf. “I didn’t know her before this process. But through the interview process and getting to know her, I loved her passion, energy, and her enthusiasm.”
At South Carolina, Johnson was an Associated Press All-America player and finalist for the Wade Trophy (best player in Division I) in 1996 when she ranked second in the nation in scoring with a 24.7 points per game average – still a USC record.
She is the only player in South Carolina history to average more than 20 points per game for three consecutive seasons (1994-96) and her 2,230 career points ranks second on the school’s all-time scoring list. She earned first team All-SEC honors from 1994 to 1996.
“With her experience, she’s played with numerous teams in the WNBA and overseas for years. Obviously I know who she is,” said Graf. “She’s one of the best players in the country. Having her here is just tremendous. When she walks into the gym, her love for the game just oozes out of her. The kids eat it up and they get excited because she’s so energetic and passionate.”
Johnson, a guard during her playing days standing at 5-foot-7, had an 11-year career in the Women’s National Basketball Association, playing for the Seattle Storm, Houston Comets, Detroit Shock, San Antonio Spurs, Connecticut Sun, and Orlando Miracle.
She was a four-time WNBA All-Star first team selection and a three-time all-star second team honoree.
She also competed in the American Basketball League for three seasons and was a 1998 ABL All-Star when playing for the Columbus Quest. Her 1997 and 198 teams won the ABL championship.
In 1996, Johnson was a member of the Jones Cup Gold Medal team, one year after earning a Bronze medal in the Jones Cup. She competed in the World University Games in 1997 and was a member of the 1998-99 United States Women’s National Team.
The 37-year old played internationally in Spain in 2000-03, 2006, and 2009-11, and won two championships and was the recipient of the Copa De La Reina Most Valuable Player award.
Off the court, Johnson is very active in the community having participated in the WNBA/NBA Care Program that encourages children to stay fit and take care of their neighborhoods. In 2001, she served on the Board of Directors for the Osceola Wish Foundation.
