Mike Johnston
Mike Johnston enters his 4th season at the helm of the Pride in the fall of 2025. The team earned a USA South Tournament Semifinals appearance in 2024 after an 11-win season. Senior Amery Skinner was named USA South Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference, while freshman Shae Brennan also earned First Team All-Conference honors. Seniors Lindsay Fox and Kelsey Jarrett earned Second Team honors. Skinner was also named to the USA South All-Tournament Team and United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-Region.
In the fall of 2023, the Pride advanced to the USA South Semifinals, and earned double digit wins for the first time since 2019, finishing with a 10-6-4 record overall and 5-2-2 in USA South Conference play. Junior Amery Skinner was named 2nd team all-region by the United Soccer Coaches Association, in addition to being named first-team all-conference by the USA South. In total, five members of the Pride earned USA-South all-conference accolades, including two first-team selections, two second-team selections, and one honorable accolade. Senior captain, Svea Eckstrand, was named the United Soccer Coaches Division III player of the week for her efforts in late October.
During Johnston’s first year at the helm, he led the Pride to a berth in the USA South Semifinals. The team finished the season with a 6-9-4 overall record with a 3-3-3 record in USA South Conference play. Freshman Sofia Pagnamenta was named to the USA South All-Tournament team, and freshman, Julia Howland received honorable mention All-Conference honors.
Greensboro College President Lawrence D. Czarda and Director of Athletics Kim Strable announced the hiring of Johnston as Head Women's Soccer Coach in the spring of 2022 after serving in an assistant role for the Pride the previous 3 seasons, where he focused on leadership and culture training within the team. Johnston helped lead the Pride to a USA South divisional championship in the spring of 2021. "It is indeed a privilege to be selected as the next head coach of the Greensboro College Pride and I am grateful to Coach Strable and President Czarda for the opportunity”, said Johnston. “I'm excited to continue the culture that has been instilled in this program and I believe this team has tremendous potential. Greensboro College is an outstanding institution and we, as a program, want to be the standard of excellence both on and off the field going forward."
In addition to his women's soccer coaching role, Johnston is the Head Sports Performance Specialist for Greensboro College Athletics and serves as an adjunct professor in the Department of Kinesiology. Johnston brings extensive experience to his position at Greensboro College, and has coached at the collegiate, high school, club, and Olympic development levels throughout his illustrious coaching career. Prior to joining the Pride staff, Johnston spent 14 years at the American Hebrew Academy, a private preparatory boarding school where he chaired the school's Wellness Department, served as associate athletics director, and coached the boys' and girls' soccer teams in addition to the boys' basketball team. In both 2017 and 2018, he was named the 1A private school state coach of the year for girls' soccer by the North Carolina Soccer Coaches Association. In addition, he was named 1A private regional coach of the year by the NCSCA for girls' soccer in successive years from 2017-2019 and was named boys regional coach of the year in 2017. Under Johnston's guidance numerous athletes earned all-state, all-region, all-conference, and all-area distinction, and several of his athletes have gone on to excel in the collegiate and professional ranks. Johnston has also enjoyed successful coaching stints at Caldwell Academy, Greensboro Day School, Guilford College and with the Greensboro Youth Soccer Association.
"Mike has been a genuine difference maker as a coach and mentor everywhere he has been. His multiple talents and experiences give him tremendous credibility with his peers and student-athletes, and we are confident that our women's soccer program will flourish under his leadership," said Director of Athletics Kim Strable. Also an experienced educator, Johnston served as department chair of Sports Medicine and Wellness at the Middle College at UNC-Greensboro from 2019-2022, and also served as chair of the institution's leadership team. Johnston worked previously as an instructor both at the American Hebrew Academy and UNC-Greensboro, teaching classes in the realm of Sports Medicine, Exercise Science, and Kinesiology. Johnston holds a Master of Science degree in Sports Medicine and Kinesiology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and earned both his Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sports Science and Minor in Sport Coaching from UNCG as well. Johnston also holds both National and Advanced National coaching diplomas from United Soccer Coaches (formerly the National Soccer Coaches Association of America), is a certified USA Weightlifting coach, and is a sports performance specialist. In addition to his coaching roles, Johnston trains elite athletes throughout the year and has a vested interest in sport performance and development of athletes.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING......
"Mike was a significant part of my staff with the Amanda Cromwell Soccer Academy for many years, where he not only served as a head coach, but also helped our athletes with speed and agility programming. I trusted Mike as a sound resource in our recruiting efforts and he helped attract several top players to both UCLA and UCF. Mike has great ability to invest in players first, earn their trust, and in turn improve their confidence both on and off the field. Greensboro College is indeed in good hands and I'm excited to see the evolution of the program over the coming years."
Amanda Cromwell
Former Head Coach, Orlando Pride
Former Head Coach and National Champion, UCLA
Former US National Team Member
"When I think about high level coaches … true coaches … at their core a coach… Mike Johnston is at the top of the list. I have known Mike for over 22 years and had a front row seat to his career. First and foremost Mike is an amazing human being, leads from the heart, and is a specialist at connecting with people! The ability to both support and stretch (challenge) athletes at the same time is a skill that Mike has mastered. Greensboro College hit the jackpot with this hire. Mike has deep insight in all areas of the game. His expertise and knowledge base in strength & conditioning, sports performance, athletic training, and the game itself immediately gives Greensboro a competitive advantage. To have all that in a head coach…uncommon. Mike is a mentor and teacher at heart with an ability to transfer information like nobody else I've seen. He has a magnetic personality and is always adding value to others. Greensboro College Women's Soccer … get ready… cause you are going to a new level with Mike Johnston at the helm!"
Donna Fishter
Leadership Coach & Team Architect
Former NCAA Division I Coach
"I couldn't be more thrilled for Mike or for the people and players of Greensboro College. Mike is a tireless worker with a constant love and pursuit of knowledge and development. He is one of the most authentic and present people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I think his ability to develop relationships and invest in his players as people first, sets him apart. I can't wait to see the program's growth and success."
Matt Cosinuke
Head Women's Soccer Coach, Eastern Kentucky University
"What a quality hire by Greensboro College. Mike's passion, energy, and intelligence for the game is surpassed only by his desire to provide a first class student-athlete experience for his players. I'm confident he will do wonderful things for the program, the Athletic Department, and most importantly as a representative of the Greensboro College Athletics within the community. Congratulations to Greensboro College and Mike. This hire certainly shows a commitment to future success both on and off the field for all of those involved."
Robert Lane
Former Head Women's Soccer Coach, Troy University
Former Assistant Women's Soccer Coach, University of Georgia
