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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Dani Johnson Named Assistant Women's Soccer Coach
February 26, 2020 | Women's Soccer
Toledo Native Joins Falcons after Two Highly-Successful Seasons at Findlay
Bowling Green State University head women's soccer coach Jimmy Walker has announced the hiring of Dani Johnson as assistant coach. Johnson, a Toledo native, joins the Falcon program after coaching under Walker for two highly-successful seasons at the University of Findlay.
In six years at the collegiate level – four as a player and two as an assistant coach – Johnson's teams have posted a combined record of 113-16-6.
"I am excited to work with Dani again! She is a fantastic young coach that will bring a lot of energy and passion to the program," said Walker. "Dani does a great job of building relationships with the players and will be an excellent addition to our staff."
In their two years at Findlay, Walker and Johnson guided the Oilers to an overall record of 25-7-4 and the program's first-ever trip to the NCAA Division II National Tournament. UF advanced past Rockhurst via penalty kicks in the first round of the national tournament, before seeing the historic season come to a close with a narrow, 1-0 loss in the NCAA Regional Semifinal round.
The duo's first season with the Oilers saw the team post an 11-4-2 record, which was a six-win improvement from the year before. Then, in 2019, Findlay went 14-3-2 overall, posting the program's highest win total since 1997 and winning the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) regular-season championship.
"I am thrilled to be a part of an elite program and university that pursues those extra percentages on the daily," said Johnson. "I have deep roots within the Midwest and I'm excited to strengthen and grow those roots to new measures alongside Jimmy Walker. This is an incredible opportunity for me to continue to grow and learn as a young coach in this profession."
Johnson joined the Findlay program after a standout playing career at Grand Valley State University. She helped the Lakers to at least the quarterfinal round of the national tournament in all four seasons, and GVSU won the NCAA Division II National Championship in both 2014 and 2015 before finishing as the national runner-up in 2016.
Johnson was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-America Second Team in her senior season of 2017, and also earned D2CCA All-America Second-Team accolades. She earned All-Midwest Region First-Team honors from both organizations that fall.
Johnson was the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 as the Lakers advanced to the Elite 8 for the ninth consecutive season.
A two-time All-GLIAC First-Team selection, she was twice named to the GLIAC's All-Academic Team as well.
During her four-year career, the Lakers had an overall record of 88-9-4 and a GLIAC record of 42-1-1. GVSU was 32-0-0 in conference play over her last three seasons, and the Lakers won the league's regular-season and tournament titles in all four years.
GVSU had a record of 14-2-2 in NCAA Tournament matches during Johnson's four years with the program.
In addition to Findlay, Johnson's coaching experience includes stints with several clubs, including Pacesetter SC in Sylvania and Midwest United in Grand Rapids, Mich.
A graduate of Notre Dame Academy, Johnson recorded 37 goals and 32 assists during her four-year high-school career with the Eagles. She helped head coach Chip Smith's team to a Three Rivers Athletic Conference title and a district championship in her senior season of 2013. That fall, she was named the TRAC Player of the Year and also earned NSCAA All-Region IV and OHSAA Division I All-State First Team honors. A four-time all TRAC, All-District and All-Academic selection, she was named to the OHSAA All-State Second team in her junior year.
Johnson played club ball for Pacesetter SC for nearly a decade, and her coaches there included Jimmy Walker. She helped the club to numerous championships, including the 2014 Ohio State Cup title.
Johnson is a 2018 graduate of GVSU, earning her bachelor's degree in communication with a minor in hospitality management.
In six years at the collegiate level – four as a player and two as an assistant coach – Johnson's teams have posted a combined record of 113-16-6.
"I am excited to work with Dani again! She is a fantastic young coach that will bring a lot of energy and passion to the program," said Walker. "Dani does a great job of building relationships with the players and will be an excellent addition to our staff."
In their two years at Findlay, Walker and Johnson guided the Oilers to an overall record of 25-7-4 and the program's first-ever trip to the NCAA Division II National Tournament. UF advanced past Rockhurst via penalty kicks in the first round of the national tournament, before seeing the historic season come to a close with a narrow, 1-0 loss in the NCAA Regional Semifinal round.
The duo's first season with the Oilers saw the team post an 11-4-2 record, which was a six-win improvement from the year before. Then, in 2019, Findlay went 14-3-2 overall, posting the program's highest win total since 1997 and winning the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) regular-season championship.
"I am thrilled to be a part of an elite program and university that pursues those extra percentages on the daily," said Johnson. "I have deep roots within the Midwest and I'm excited to strengthen and grow those roots to new measures alongside Jimmy Walker. This is an incredible opportunity for me to continue to grow and learn as a young coach in this profession."
Johnson joined the Findlay program after a standout playing career at Grand Valley State University. She helped the Lakers to at least the quarterfinal round of the national tournament in all four seasons, and GVSU won the NCAA Division II National Championship in both 2014 and 2015 before finishing as the national runner-up in 2016.
Johnson was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-America Second Team in her senior season of 2017, and also earned D2CCA All-America Second-Team accolades. She earned All-Midwest Region First-Team honors from both organizations that fall.
Johnson was the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 as the Lakers advanced to the Elite 8 for the ninth consecutive season.
A two-time All-GLIAC First-Team selection, she was twice named to the GLIAC's All-Academic Team as well.
During her four-year career, the Lakers had an overall record of 88-9-4 and a GLIAC record of 42-1-1. GVSU was 32-0-0 in conference play over her last three seasons, and the Lakers won the league's regular-season and tournament titles in all four years.
GVSU had a record of 14-2-2 in NCAA Tournament matches during Johnson's four years with the program.
In addition to Findlay, Johnson's coaching experience includes stints with several clubs, including Pacesetter SC in Sylvania and Midwest United in Grand Rapids, Mich.
A graduate of Notre Dame Academy, Johnson recorded 37 goals and 32 assists during her four-year high-school career with the Eagles. She helped head coach Chip Smith's team to a Three Rivers Athletic Conference title and a district championship in her senior season of 2013. That fall, she was named the TRAC Player of the Year and also earned NSCAA All-Region IV and OHSAA Division I All-State First Team honors. A four-time all TRAC, All-District and All-Academic selection, she was named to the OHSAA All-State Second team in her junior year.
Johnson played club ball for Pacesetter SC for nearly a decade, and her coaches there included Jimmy Walker. She helped the club to numerous championships, including the 2014 Ohio State Cup title.
Johnson is a 2018 graduate of GVSU, earning her bachelor's degree in communication with a minor in hospitality management.
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