Former University of Missouri stand-out Krista Johnson has been named as the new assistant volleyball coach, joining first year head coach Brent Aldridge on the Northern State University sidelines for the 2011 season. A native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Johnson comes to the Wolves after spending the previous five seasons as an assistant coach at Mt. Mercy University, where she was primarily responsible for coaching the front-row players in their hitting and defensive techniques.
“I am very excited about having Krista as a part of the NSU volleyball staff,” said Aldridge. “She has played the game at a high level in NCAA Division I and with that experience can help our athletes understand the demands of what it takes to be a successful student athlete at Northern State University. I look forward to working alongside Krista this year as we start a new journey in Northern State Volleyball history.”
An all-around athlete out of Cedar Rapids Thomas Jefferson High School, Johnson took her talents to Columbia, Mo., where she developed into one of the top middle blockers in the Big 12. She ranked second on the team in total blocks (98) and hitting percentage (.334) during her junior season, finishing ninth in the conference in hitting percentage.
Following her graduation from Missouri in 2002, Johnson returned to her native state and was the head coach of the Rapid Spikers club (17s and 18s) from 2004 to 2006 before taking over as head coach of the Pride club (14s and 15s) the next three seasons. She returned to the Rapid Spikers 18s team in 2011.
Johnson has remained actively involved in both indoor and sand volleyball tournaments, winning two of three sand volleyball tournaments in 2010 before suffering an ankle injury. She also finished second at the women’s national tournament in Minneapolis, Minn., in 2009, earning a spot on the all-tournament team for her efforts.
