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Highlights from the Argus:
http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs...02/1002/SPORTS
SDSU women's coach finds his niche
Johnston goes from painter to coach of elite program in S.D.
Chris Solari
csolari@argusleader.com
published: 02/26/05
BROOKINGS - When Aaron Johnston traded his basketball sneakers for a coaching whistle while still in college, he clearly defined his career path. . . .
The 30-year-old's winding road has been paved with success the entire way, having gone from being out of the coaching ranks and painting houses in his hometown of Pine Island, Minn., to winning a Division II national championship and guiding SDSU's ascent into Division I. He's been able achieve all that with a modest yet intense belief in his knowledge of the game. . . .
Age is a number
Watching Johnston run a practice from afar, they appear to be just like many other high-level coaches' workouts - succinct and intense.
Directing his team from drill to drill. Tooting and wailing on his whistle. Sometimes cajoling the players, sometimes bringing fire and brimstone, most often voicing encouraging words and clapping.
It's only when you get up close that you realize that Johnston looks like he could be another student with a class in 10 minutes.
In 2000, Athletic Director Fred Oien hired Johnston, then 25, to take over for Neiber, who had resigned due to health problems. . . .
The move has led the Jackrabbit women to unprecedented heights. Johnston's impressive 125-39 record is includes the school's first Division II national championship in 2003 and three Elite Eight appearances. His victory total ranks second at SDSU to Neiber, who won 301 games in 16 seasons. . . .
Oien said it was the veteran coach Neiber - a staunch proponent of giving women coaching opportunities - who sold him on hiring her relatively green assistant.
"He had a drive that reminded me a lot of me when I was younger," Neiber said.
Trying trial
In the spring of 1999, Johnston left Brookings to return to Pine Island. He had completed two years as a graduate assistant under SDSU men's coach Scott Nagy and hadn't lined up a coaching job for that school year.
While he was living with his parents and working part-time painting houses, Neiber called. The two had spoken briefly about a potential full-time assistant position with the Jackrabbit women, and when the job opened up, he received an offer.
"I said, 'Aaron, if you choose to take this position as a women's assistant, you'll probably never get a men's head coaching job at the college level,' " Neiber said. "He understood that these women will give you their all if they trust you and respect you." . . .
Johnston assumed head coaching duties for those games and went 4-2. With Neiber at home listening on the radio, SDSU's upset victory over NDSU on Feb. 25, 2000 in Brookings proved a watershed victory for the program. . . .
By hiring Johnston on June 30, 2000, SDSU was fueling its rocket ride to the pinnacle of Division II.
Building a champion
NDSU coach Amy Ruley knows a thing or two about winning. She is enshrined in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, and her Bison teams captured five Division II national championships in the 1990s.
She said Johnston's approach to recruiting and knowledge of the game has made a big difference for SDSU.
"The caliber of the athlete has kind of increased," Ruley said. "For any of us, if you have good athletes and stay healthy, those are the keys."
In just his second full season in 2001-02, Johnston directed the Jackrabbits to their first Elite Eight appearance in Rochester, Minn. A year later, they were Division II national champions, and Johnston was named Division II Coach of the Year after a 32-3 season. . . .
SDSU made a third straight trip to the Elite Eight last season. His teams have won 20 games in each of the last four years. Yet, Johnston retains a "humble confidence," as Oien calls it. . . .
Looking forward
Johnston refuses to rest on his ever-growing list of accomplishments, especially since the transition to Division I provides plenty of work.
"I've never been somebody who looks at how things have gone," he admits. "Part of that is that I still think of myself being really young in this profession. I don't feel like I have a lot of time to reflect on it. . . .
Any successful coach will have opportunities to move on in the profession. With an 8-6 mark against Division I teams this season, the Jacks' first at the new level, Johnston's name will surely be mentioned if some high-profile regional jobs open.
"Obviously you don't want to lose good coaches," Oien said. "But at the same time, we understand that there are programs that will be after A.J. at some point in time. It's our job to do what we can at South Dakota State to keep him."
But Johnston says that "having some roots in my coaching career is important." He talks of fostering a "culture" at SDSU in which the players are always pushing to do their best.
"I have a great desire to be a better coach and improve the program," he said. "I think a lot of people misunderstand that desire as one that means I have to move and go somewhere better. But I want to build a culture that stands a long test of time."
Go State! ;D
http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs...02/1002/SPORTS
SDSU women's coach finds his niche
Johnston goes from painter to coach of elite program in S.D.
Chris Solari
csolari@argusleader.com
published: 02/26/05
BROOKINGS - When Aaron Johnston traded his basketball sneakers for a coaching whistle while still in college, he clearly defined his career path. . . .
The 30-year-old's winding road has been paved with success the entire way, having gone from being out of the coaching ranks and painting houses in his hometown of Pine Island, Minn., to winning a Division II national championship and guiding SDSU's ascent into Division I. He's been able achieve all that with a modest yet intense belief in his knowledge of the game. . . .
Age is a number
Watching Johnston run a practice from afar, they appear to be just like many other high-level coaches' workouts - succinct and intense.
Directing his team from drill to drill. Tooting and wailing on his whistle. Sometimes cajoling the players, sometimes bringing fire and brimstone, most often voicing encouraging words and clapping.
It's only when you get up close that you realize that Johnston looks like he could be another student with a class in 10 minutes.
In 2000, Athletic Director Fred Oien hired Johnston, then 25, to take over for Neiber, who had resigned due to health problems. . . .
The move has led the Jackrabbit women to unprecedented heights. Johnston's impressive 125-39 record is includes the school's first Division II national championship in 2003 and three Elite Eight appearances. His victory total ranks second at SDSU to Neiber, who won 301 games in 16 seasons. . . .
Oien said it was the veteran coach Neiber - a staunch proponent of giving women coaching opportunities - who sold him on hiring her relatively green assistant.
"He had a drive that reminded me a lot of me when I was younger," Neiber said.
Trying trial
In the spring of 1999, Johnston left Brookings to return to Pine Island. He had completed two years as a graduate assistant under SDSU men's coach Scott Nagy and hadn't lined up a coaching job for that school year.
While he was living with his parents and working part-time painting houses, Neiber called. The two had spoken briefly about a potential full-time assistant position with the Jackrabbit women, and when the job opened up, he received an offer.
"I said, 'Aaron, if you choose to take this position as a women's assistant, you'll probably never get a men's head coaching job at the college level,' " Neiber said. "He understood that these women will give you their all if they trust you and respect you." . . .
Johnston assumed head coaching duties for those games and went 4-2. With Neiber at home listening on the radio, SDSU's upset victory over NDSU on Feb. 25, 2000 in Brookings proved a watershed victory for the program. . . .
By hiring Johnston on June 30, 2000, SDSU was fueling its rocket ride to the pinnacle of Division II.
Building a champion
NDSU coach Amy Ruley knows a thing or two about winning. She is enshrined in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, and her Bison teams captured five Division II national championships in the 1990s.
She said Johnston's approach to recruiting and knowledge of the game has made a big difference for SDSU.
"The caliber of the athlete has kind of increased," Ruley said. "For any of us, if you have good athletes and stay healthy, those are the keys."
In just his second full season in 2001-02, Johnston directed the Jackrabbits to their first Elite Eight appearance in Rochester, Minn. A year later, they were Division II national champions, and Johnston was named Division II Coach of the Year after a 32-3 season. . . .
SDSU made a third straight trip to the Elite Eight last season. His teams have won 20 games in each of the last four years. Yet, Johnston retains a "humble confidence," as Oien calls it. . . .
Looking forward
Johnston refuses to rest on his ever-growing list of accomplishments, especially since the transition to Division I provides plenty of work.
"I've never been somebody who looks at how things have gone," he admits. "Part of that is that I still think of myself being really young in this profession. I don't feel like I have a lot of time to reflect on it. . . .
Any successful coach will have opportunities to move on in the profession. With an 8-6 mark against Division I teams this season, the Jacks' first at the new level, Johnston's name will surely be mentioned if some high-profile regional jobs open.
"Obviously you don't want to lose good coaches," Oien said. "But at the same time, we understand that there are programs that will be after A.J. at some point in time. It's our job to do what we can at South Dakota State to keep him."
But Johnston says that "having some roots in my coaching career is important." He talks of fostering a "culture" at SDSU in which the players are always pushing to do their best.
"I have a great desire to be a better coach and improve the program," he said. "I think a lot of people misunderstand that desire as one that means I have to move and go somewhere better. But I want to build a culture that stands a long test of time."
Go State! ;D
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