Van Johnson was named the Saint Elizabeth University Head Women's Basketball Coach in September 2021 after serving as an assistant coach for 3 years. During his three seasons at St. Elizabeth, Johnson helped the program accumulate an overall record of 41-31 and show improvement each year that culminated in a 19-7 record in the 2019-20 season and an advancement to the CSAC Tournament Finals. As an assistant, Johnson led all recruiting efforts while also working with the institution's NCAA compliance office.
"Van's history with the team, proven ability to recruit, and passion for developing the program make him an obvious choice for the head coach position. We can't wait to see what he does with his own team," said Director of Athletics Tom Wagenblast.
Johnson's wealth of coaching experience has most recently been on display with the Varsity Basketball team at Villa Walsh Academy. Prior to Villa Walsh, Johnson served as the Head Girls' Basketball Coach at Parsippany Hills High school where he led the team to their most wins in 10 years. Before that, he was the assistant coach at Morris Catholic High School in Denville for two years where he helped the team win 54 games, two County Championships, and two NJSIAA State Tournament Sectional titles.
In his time as a Coach, Johnson has helped 18 student-athletes achieve Academic All-Conference honors and 23 of his student-athletes earn All-Conference honors.
Johnson is a graduate of Montclair State College, where he majored in Political Science, double minored in Pre-Law and Public Administration, and played football for 4 years. He is a believer in coaching education and has completed both NFHS and National Coaching Certifications.
