At Greensboro College:

2023:  During his second year as Head Coach, the Pride advanced to the USA South semifinals.  The team finished the season with a 10-6-4 overall record with a 5-2-2 record in USA South Conference play.  Freshman Abby Romanisko and Senior Amory Skinner were named as First Team All Conference selections.  Sophomores Sofia Pagnamenta and Julia Howland were named to Second Team All Conference selections while Kelsey Jarrett had an honorable mention.  Senior Svea Ekstrand was awarded the United Soccer Coaches Division III Player of the Week.

2022:  During his first year at the helm, he led the Pride to the USA South Athletic Conference 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.  Julia Howland was awarded honorable mention All-Conference honors.

2019 - 2021: Greensboro College appointed Johnston as Head Women's Soccer Coach in the spring of 2022 after serving as an assistant for the Pride the previous 3 seasons. Johnston helped lead the Pride to a USA South East division championship in the Spring of 2021, and during his tenure as an assistant with the Pride, Johnston focused on leadership and culture training within the team. 

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.

Prior to Greensboro College:

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