Xavier University Athletics
Johnson's Coaching Journey Brings Her Back Home to Cincinnati
08.28.23 | Women's Basketball, Featured
CINCINNATI - Most people wish it will all work out perfectly. Whatever "it" is, perfection usually happens more in imagination than in reality.
But, every once in a while, perfection finds its way, often when it's least expected.
"Things don't always work out that perfectly," Myia Johnson said recently as she explained how she became an Assistant Coach for Xavier University's women's basketball team.
For Johnson, the journey she's on — and the one she's been on since growing up in Cincinnati — has always been guided by faith.
"I put all my faith in God. I'm at a point where I'm gonna let the Spirit lead me. So wherever God wants me to be that's where I'm gonna be," said Johnson.
It seems God has always pushed Johnson toward basketball. She starred locally at Winton Woods High School, a 2006 grad, then went on to play at Rutgers University where she made four NCAA Tournament appearances, including playing in the Final Four and the National Championship.
"I love basketball … that's my passion, but I feel like my purpose is to give back and serve," said Johnson. "And basketball that's just the greatest stage for me to do that."
It took an adventure to get into coaching, and to make it back home.
After Johnson graduated from Rutgers, she headed overseas and played professionally in Finland. An injury, one that followed two ACL tears and a microfracture, forced Johnson to reevaluate her situation and she ultimately decided to end her playing career.
In college, Johnson had an internship with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, which produced job opportunities in Cincinnati and New Jersey. Johnson initially opted to keep playing, but when the injury happened she reached out to her contacts at Morgan Stanley and found out the job she'd been offered in Cincinnati had not been filled yet.
So, she accepted the offer and moved back home.
The game she loved, though, was hard to leave behind. She worked during the day at Morgan Stanley, but in the evenings and on weekends, Johnson started coaching. She started as an Assistant Coach at Fairfield High School. There were also camps and training programs she put together for young girls and boys.
"It was my passion and my purpose mixed together," she said. "And I couldn't wait to get off work and write up a practice plan."
That's when Johnson called Vivian Stringer, her former coach at Rutgers.
She told Stringer she wanted to be a college coach. Through that conversation, Johnson found out there was an Administrative Assistant opening at South Florida. She applied and got the job.
"I'll just work my way from the bottom all the way up," said Johnson. "I was having the time of my life."
From there, Johnson landed the Video Coordinator position at Ohio State, which led to her first job as a collegiate Assistant Coach with Wisconsin.
After three seasons with the Badgers, Johnson headed to Penn State for three years.
Her time in Pennsylvania led her back home last year as an Assistant Coach at the University of Cincinnati.
Johnson missed the majority of last season at UC while on maternity leave, and when head coach Michelle Clark-Heard was let go following the season, the coaching staff went their separate ways.
"I had a few schools reach out. I had some interviews for head jobs," said Johnson. "When coach (Billi) Chambers got the (Xavier) job, I had a couple of friends that knew her. I didn't know her … I thought it was a long shot, but she ended up calling me so I interviewed and I'm super appreciative that coach Chambers took a chance on me.
"It's just such a blessing that we didn't have to move my family."
Occasionally, the perfect situation appears at the perfect time. Johnson met her husband in middle school and they've been together ever since. Both of their families are here, and the opportunity at Xavier means she and her husband get the chance to raise their family in their hometown.
Johnson was quick to credit God with the way things have worked out.
"Being back home it just all lined up, it all worked out. I've been gone for 11 or 12 years, so coming back home and being able to do what I love to do, being able to have that impact it's the greatest gift ever," said Johnson.
Johnson's always known about Xavier, but now she's inundated herself with the place and the people. Johnson knew and experienced the Cintas Center through graduation ceremonies, conference tournaments, and postseason tournaments. It was nice then, "and it's still nice today," she said.
As nice as the facilities are, that's not what's caught Johnson's attention the most.
It's been the people.
"Everybody is willing to help," said Johnson. "It's a community where nobody feels above or below any task. Since we've been here, we've been asking questions and everybody has been helpful. You don't see that everywhere."
In addition to being an Assistant Coach, Johnson will also serve as Xavier's Recruiting Coordinator, a position she's already held at previous stops in her coaching career.
A new program is never easy, not for the players or the coaches. Johnson's been impressed with the way her new team has handled it, and the way it's quickly felt like a family.
"It's a really good environment for all of us to thrive," said Johnson.
One of the most important lessons Johnson's already learned is a simple one, just three short words, but around here it carries a lot of weight.
And Johnson ends the conversation by saying it.
"Let's go X."
But, every once in a while, perfection finds its way, often when it's least expected.
"Things don't always work out that perfectly," Myia Johnson said recently as she explained how she became an Assistant Coach for Xavier University's women's basketball team.
For Johnson, the journey she's on — and the one she's been on since growing up in Cincinnati — has always been guided by faith.
"I put all my faith in God. I'm at a point where I'm gonna let the Spirit lead me. So wherever God wants me to be that's where I'm gonna be," said Johnson.
It seems God has always pushed Johnson toward basketball. She starred locally at Winton Woods High School, a 2006 grad, then went on to play at Rutgers University where she made four NCAA Tournament appearances, including playing in the Final Four and the National Championship.
"I love basketball … that's my passion, but I feel like my purpose is to give back and serve," said Johnson. "And basketball that's just the greatest stage for me to do that."
It took an adventure to get into coaching, and to make it back home.
After Johnson graduated from Rutgers, she headed overseas and played professionally in Finland. An injury, one that followed two ACL tears and a microfracture, forced Johnson to reevaluate her situation and she ultimately decided to end her playing career.
In college, Johnson had an internship with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, which produced job opportunities in Cincinnati and New Jersey. Johnson initially opted to keep playing, but when the injury happened she reached out to her contacts at Morgan Stanley and found out the job she'd been offered in Cincinnati had not been filled yet.
So, she accepted the offer and moved back home.
The game she loved, though, was hard to leave behind. She worked during the day at Morgan Stanley, but in the evenings and on weekends, Johnson started coaching. She started as an Assistant Coach at Fairfield High School. There were also camps and training programs she put together for young girls and boys.
"It was my passion and my purpose mixed together," she said. "And I couldn't wait to get off work and write up a practice plan."
That's when Johnson called Vivian Stringer, her former coach at Rutgers.
She told Stringer she wanted to be a college coach. Through that conversation, Johnson found out there was an Administrative Assistant opening at South Florida. She applied and got the job.
"I'll just work my way from the bottom all the way up," said Johnson. "I was having the time of my life."
From there, Johnson landed the Video Coordinator position at Ohio State, which led to her first job as a collegiate Assistant Coach with Wisconsin.
After three seasons with the Badgers, Johnson headed to Penn State for three years.
Her time in Pennsylvania led her back home last year as an Assistant Coach at the University of Cincinnati.
Johnson missed the majority of last season at UC while on maternity leave, and when head coach Michelle Clark-Heard was let go following the season, the coaching staff went their separate ways.
"I had a few schools reach out. I had some interviews for head jobs," said Johnson. "When coach (Billi) Chambers got the (Xavier) job, I had a couple of friends that knew her. I didn't know her … I thought it was a long shot, but she ended up calling me so I interviewed and I'm super appreciative that coach Chambers took a chance on me.
"It's just such a blessing that we didn't have to move my family."
Occasionally, the perfect situation appears at the perfect time. Johnson met her husband in middle school and they've been together ever since. Both of their families are here, and the opportunity at Xavier means she and her husband get the chance to raise their family in their hometown.
Johnson was quick to credit God with the way things have worked out.
"Being back home it just all lined up, it all worked out. I've been gone for 11 or 12 years, so coming back home and being able to do what I love to do, being able to have that impact it's the greatest gift ever," said Johnson.
Johnson's always known about Xavier, but now she's inundated herself with the place and the people. Johnson knew and experienced the Cintas Center through graduation ceremonies, conference tournaments, and postseason tournaments. It was nice then, "and it's still nice today," she said.
As nice as the facilities are, that's not what's caught Johnson's attention the most.
It's been the people.
"Everybody is willing to help," said Johnson. "It's a community where nobody feels above or below any task. Since we've been here, we've been asking questions and everybody has been helpful. You don't see that everywhere."
In addition to being an Assistant Coach, Johnson will also serve as Xavier's Recruiting Coordinator, a position she's already held at previous stops in her coaching career.
A new program is never easy, not for the players or the coaches. Johnson's been impressed with the way her new team has handled it, and the way it's quickly felt like a family.
"It's a really good environment for all of us to thrive," said Johnson.
One of the most important lessons Johnson's already learned is a simple one, just three short words, but around here it carries a lot of weight.
And Johnson ends the conversation by saying it.
"Let's go X."
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