Associat Head Coach Adam Johnson |
Adam Johnson is entering his 10th season with the Lady Choctaws. Johnson spent his first six years as an assistant, and is entering his fourth season as the Associate Head Coach, having been given the title prior to the 2017 campaign.
In nine successful seasons, Johnson has helped contribute to an overall winning record of 119-44-13, a conference record of 78-29-8 and helped account for a seamless transition for the program from Division III to Division II.
The Lady Choctaws made history in 2019, winning the Gulf South Conference regular season title with a perfect 12-0 record in league play. They would advance to the NCAA Tournament as the #1 seed in the South Region for the second time in three years and went 15-3 overall and played in their third straight NCAA Tournament. The Lady Choctaws won a school-record 15 straight contests during the 2019 campaign, and Katie Taylor was named a First Team All-American and earned South Region and GSC Player of the Year Awards.
In 2018, the women's soccer team advanced further than any other in the program's history, winning their way to the Division II Sweet Sixteen with an upset road win over top-seed Barry in the second round. The Lady Choctaws set a school record with 11 straight victories from September 7th to October 21st, including eight shutouts and just a total of three goals allowed. MC opened the Division II tournament with a 3-0 win over Nova Southeastern before defeating Barry in the second round. The Lady Choctaws hung their hats on the defensive end where they allowed just 13 goals and posted a 0.64 goals against average.
The 2017 season served as one of the most successful seasons in program history for the Lady Choctaws, as they were crowned GSC Regular Season co-champions. MC compiled a record of 15-4-1 on the year, the third-highest single-season win total in program history. Along with their GSC Regular Season Championship, the Lady Choctaws made the NCAA National Tournament for the first time, earning the number one seed in the South Region in the process. They also finished as conference tournament runners up for the second year running.
Coach Johnson and the Lady Choctaws have had additional success in recent years, including reaching the GSC conference tournament finals in 2016 in their first full season of eligibility as a division II school. The Lady Choctaws held the number one seed at the NCCAA National Championships in 2015, while finishing as national runners up in the tournament.
A number of players have received recognition under the coaching of Johnson, including Gaylynn Cooper earning First Team All-GSC, D2CCA All-South Region and USC All-South Region recognition in 2018. Over the last few seaosns, Johnson has helped produce four GSC First Team All-Conference, six GSC Second Team All-Conference, seven D2CCA All-South Region, six NCCAA All Mid-East, two NCCAA All-American, five First Team All-ASC and five Second Team All-ASC selections.
Having previously played semi professional soccer in England with Thackley FC and in Australia with Albion Park, he finished his playing career in 2011 as a state champion with Hinds Community College. Johnson accumulated many individual and team honors including 2 Illawarra Premier League and Grand Final Championships in 2007 and 2008 with Albion Park, and inclusion in the 2011 All Region team while at Hinds CC.
Adam began his coaching career in 2007 with the Albion Park youth team in Australia before his move to the US. He has since coached as Head Coach at Jackson Academy, club teams in the Jackson metro area, and is currently the Director of Player Development at Brilla Juniors in Clinton, Mississippi. In a coaching career spanning three continents, he has the UEFA B coaching license from England, the Football Federation of Australia (FFA) Youth License, and currently the USSF National D license in the US.
Adam was born in Huddersfield, England. He graduated from the University of Huddersfield in 2007 with a Bachelor's degree in business. Johnson also graduated with an Associates degree from Hinds Community College in Raymond, MS in 2011, and is currently pursuing a masters degree in Athletic Administration from Mississippi College. Adam lives in Madison, MS with his wife and three children.