FLORENCE, Ala. -- With 11 years of collegiate coaching experience, including Division I stops at the University of Alabama, Arkansas State University and Southern Illinois University, Tristan Johnson has been named head women's volleyball coach at the University of North Alabama.
 
Honored in 2015 as a member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association's "Thirty Under 30" list of up-and-coming volleyball coaches, and again in 2020 by VolleyballMag.com Under 40 Coaching Hotshots, Johnson also spent two summers as an intern with the U.S. Men's and Women's national teams.
 
Johnson, who signed a four-year contract with the Lions, becomes the 12th head volleyball coach at North Alabama since the UNA program began in 1969.
 
"I would like to thank Dr. (Ken) Kitts, Dr. (Josh) Looney, and the search committee for their time and confidence in selecting me as the next head volleyball coach at UNA," Johnson said. "I also would like to thank SIU Head Volleyball Coach Ed Allen for all of his mentorship and help throughout my coaching career.  I'm extremely excited about the opportunity to lead the UNA volleyball program to success, on and off the court."
 
Johnson takes over a UNA volleyball program that has won 18 conference championships and made 17 NCAA Tournament appearances since 1982.  At UNA, he follows Andrew Kroger, who served as interim head coach in the Lions' final season of their Division I transition in 2021.
 
"We believe in Tristan Johnson and the blend of energy, enthusiasm and experience he brings to building our volleyball program at the Division I level," said UNA Director of Athletics Josh Looney. "Tristan is widely regarded as a rising star in the industry and is a great fit for our athletic department. We are thrilled to welcome Tristan and his family back to the state of Alabama to lead the next chapter in North Alabama's history of championship volleyball."
 
For the last four years, Johnson served as an assistant coach at SIU, where he assisted with all aspects of team training, as well as serving as the team's recruiting coordinator.
 
He began his coaching career as a student assistant for two years at Blinn College (Texas), where he worked with the Buccaneers' NJCAA national championship volleyball team that went 38-0 in 2011. He then transferred to Alabama, where he spent  two seasons as a student assistant under Allen, including the 2013 season in which the Tide made their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2007.
 
A 2014 graduate of Alabama, Johnson spent three seasons as an assistant at Arkansas State. He served two seasons as an assistant coach before being promoted to associate head coach in 2016. After a perfect 16-0 record in Sun Belt play in 2015, the Red Wolves advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1999 under Johnson's tutelage. The following season, Johnson helped the Red Wolves to a 25-8 overall record, including a 15-1 record in conference play, en route to winning the Sun Belt West Division title. Arkansas State amassed a 74-20 (.787) record in Johnson's three seasons, which included a 46-6 record in conference play.
 
In 2017, Johnson returned to Alabama, where he spent two seasons as an assistant under Allen at his alma-mater. The Tide went 36-24 in his two seasons as a full-time assistant.
 
In 2019, Johnson followed Allen to Southern Illinois. The Salukis  improved greatly in Johnson's first season on Allen's staff, as their plus-nine win differential from the 2018 season was the 10th-best in the nation in 2019. Three of SIU's 14 wins in 2019 were against teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament and Southern set program records for total digs in a season and five-set matches played in. Southern led the nation in total dig, while the Salukis' Rachel Maguire led the nation in triple-doubles.
 
In addition to his collegiate coaching experience, Johnson spent two summers as an intern with the U.S. Men's and Women's national teams, primarily coordinating practice video. In 2013, he served as the scout coach with the USA Volleyball Pan American Cup coaching staff.
 
Johnson's family has a rich history of volleyball coaching success. His mother, Denise Johnson, was inducted into the Southeast Texas Coaches Association Hall of Fame after posting 648 wins over a 37-year career, all at the same school. She was the 2012 Texas Girls Coaches Association (TGCA) Coach of the Year, served as the TGCA Volleyball Chair and led her teams to three Texas State UIL Tournament Appearances.
 
What they are saying . . .
 
Marie Robbins
Former  Associate Athletics Director and Senior Woman Administrator, University of Alabama
"From his days as an undergraduate student, through his years as an assistant coach, Tristan has been preparing himself for this moment.  UNA and the Florence community are getting a coach who is prepared to take the reins of the volleyball program and to mentor the young ladies on the team for success on and off the volleyball court."
 
Patrick Murphy
Head Softball Coach, University of Alabama
"Tristan Johnson is one of the best people I've met while in intercollegiate athletics.  I am very excited for the student-athletes of UNA volleyball.  They are going to love having him as their coach."
 
Ed Allen
Head Volleyball Coach, Southern Illinois University
"Tristan is an up and coming rockstar!  He has a strong work ethic and the ability to build relationships while relating to a variety of personalities.  A perfect person to lead North Alabama into the Division I era.  He will be sorely missed."
 
David Rehr
Head Volleyball Coach, University of Houston
"Congratulations to the University of North Alabama.  Tristan Johnson is one of the best young coaches in our sport.  He knows the game at the highest level and he can teach and coach at that level.  He is tough, competitive, bright, and can bring out the best from his student-athletes."
 
Tom Black
Head Volleyball Coach, University of Georgia
"Tristan has been ready for this position for quite awhile and North Alabama is about to reap the benefits.  He's a constant learner who is passionate about the development of his players on and off the court.  I am thrilled for Tristan at this opportunity and cannot wait to see the success he and this program will have going forward."