Original article (UNA Announces Contract Extension for Tristan Johnson) on Portland University’s athletic website roarlions.com.
University of North Alabama Director of Athletics Dr. Josh Looney announced a contract extension for head volleyball coach Tristan Johnson on Monday. Johnson’s new contract extends through the 2027 season, with an option to run through 2028.
Over the last three seasons, Johnson has led the UNA volleyball program to new heights in Division I. When Johnson took over the program on December 20, 2021, the program had just 18 total wins over four seasons at the Division I level.
In the midst of his third season, Johnson has 44 overall wins. He’s also tallied 18 Atlantic Sun Conference wins to date after taking over a program that won just eight conference games over its first four seasons of ASUN competition from 2018-21.
“We hired Coach Johnson as a first-time head coach three years ago with the goal to restore competitive expectations of UNA Volleyball at the Division I level,” said Looney. “There is no question Coach Johnson has accomplished that goal on and off the floor, and done so ahead of schedule. Our volleyball program has taken visible steps forward each year of Coach Johnson’s tenure while elevating competitive milestones and goals in the program’s Division I era.
“We’re thrilled to provide this much-deserved contract extension to Coach Johnson and the women in our volleyball program. Our volleyball student-athletes excel in the classroom and are exemplary members of the UNA and Florence communities.”
The season prior to Johnson’s arrival, UNA finished with a 9-20 record. The Lions saw a four-win improvement in his first season at the helm, going 13-15 and setting a program record for Division I wins.
UNA took a larger step in 2023 during Johnson’s second season, recording its first winning season since 2017 and establishing a new Division I best with a 17-12 record. The Lions also went 9-7 in conference play, winning the most ASUN matches in program history and making its first-ever appearance in the ASUN Championship Tournament as a five-seed.
Year three of the Johnson era is still in progress, but it has already shown signs of being the best to date. The Lions are 14-11 overall and 8-4 in ASUN play, including a thrilling win over Central Arkansas this past Wednesday at home to defeat the second-ranked team in the ASUN standings.Over the weekend, UNA clinched a berth into the 2024 ASUN Championship Tournament.
Earlier this year, the Lions pulled off a landmark win over the Alabama Crimson Tide, winning 3-0 in Tuscaloosa. This was the first meeting with Alabama since 1978 and the first win over the Tide since 1975. It was also the first SEC win for UNA volleyball since 2006.
Perhaps those two wins, and others, are a sign of things to come.
“I’d like to thank Dr. Kitts and Dr. Looney for their support of myself and the volleyball program,” said Johnson. “I would also like to give a special thank you to my wife, Brentlee, and son, Murphy, for their unwavering support in these first three seasons here at UNA. This opportunity is a testament to the work done by the student athletes, coaches and support staff that have all played a hand in the building of this program. We are so excited about the future and grateful for the chance to continue our pursuit of championships.”
Academically, the Lions have won the AVCA Team Academic Award each of the last two seasons.
The Lions have four regular season matches remaining, including the next two at home against Austin Peay (Nov. 8) and Lipscomb (Nov. 10). UNA is currently in the top four of the ASUN standings.