2008 Woodie Awards
Johnston comes back for success
Aaron Johnston signed on to be the UW- Green Bay coach but half way there he had a change of heart and is back.
Ariy-El Boynton
Issue date: 3/12/08 Section: Sports
Editor's note: UW-Green Bay Sports Information assisted with this story.
Between April 25 and 26, 2007, SDSU head coach Aaron Johnston went through many changes and experienced a wide variety of emotions.
On April 25, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Director of Athletes Ken Bothof announced the hiring of Johnston as the third head coach in the Phoenix's 34-year women's basketball history.
UW-Green Bay was excited for the opportunity to have the Division II National Championship coach, who was successful in the D-I transition, to be a part of their program.
?"We are delighted that Coach Johnston is joining the UW-Green Bay family," said UW-Green Bay Chancellor Bruce Shepard. "Our ability to attract a coach of his caliber is firm evidence of the stature and maturity of our women's basketball program. Coach Johnston's teams have experienced high levels of success - on the court and in the classroom. He is an excellent fit not only for our women's basketball program, but for our university and community."
On the flight, 26,220 miles away from Brookings and 279 miles away from Green Bay, Wisc., UW-Green Bay head coach Johnston alerted SDSU officials that he did not want to end what he had going at State.
He made a phone call to SDSU's Athletic Director Fred Oien from the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport and asked if SDSU still had an opening for head coach and if he could fill it.
Oien was dumbfounded and he indicated that he struggled to find the right words as he was caught up in an emotional moment. After meeting with David Chicoine and other athletic officials, Oien called Johnston to indicate that he would be announced as the next head women's basketball coach for the second time in nine years.
The same day, Johnston held a press conference in the HPER Ginn Trophy Room. He was greeted by a packed house and many of his new and old players, who were fresh off an intramural softball game.
Johnston was filled with strong words in his press conference. He started out his four-minutes-plus opening statement indicating that his wish was that this would be the last time he was announced as the women's head coach at SDSU.
Between April 25 and 26, 2007, SDSU head coach Aaron Johnston went through many changes and experienced a wide variety of emotions.
On April 25, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Director of Athletes Ken Bothof announced the hiring of Johnston as the third head coach in the Phoenix's 34-year women's basketball history.
UW-Green Bay was excited for the opportunity to have the Division II National Championship coach, who was successful in the D-I transition, to be a part of their program.
?"We are delighted that Coach Johnston is joining the UW-Green Bay family," said UW-Green Bay Chancellor Bruce Shepard. "Our ability to attract a coach of his caliber is firm evidence of the stature and maturity of our women's basketball program. Coach Johnston's teams have experienced high levels of success - on the court and in the classroom. He is an excellent fit not only for our women's basketball program, but for our university and community."
On the flight, 26,220 miles away from Brookings and 279 miles away from Green Bay, Wisc., UW-Green Bay head coach Johnston alerted SDSU officials that he did not want to end what he had going at State.
He made a phone call to SDSU's Athletic Director Fred Oien from the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport and asked if SDSU still had an opening for head coach and if he could fill it.
Oien was dumbfounded and he indicated that he struggled to find the right words as he was caught up in an emotional moment. After meeting with David Chicoine and other athletic officials, Oien called Johnston to indicate that he would be announced as the next head women's basketball coach for the second time in nine years.
The same day, Johnston held a press conference in the HPER Ginn Trophy Room. He was greeted by a packed house and many of his new and old players, who were fresh off an intramural softball game.
Johnston was filled with strong words in his press conference. He started out his four-minutes-plus opening statement indicating that his wish was that this would be the last time he was announced as the women's head coach at SDSU.
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