FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 26, 2023
Contact: Danielle Miller, dmiller@dillard.edu
504.816.4328
NEW ORLEANS – Dillard University has announced Dr. Ashley Johnson as head coach of the women’s volleyball program. A former stand-out player at Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), Dr. Johnson brings a wealth of volleyball knowledge in combination with her physical therapy skills to prevent injury to the Bleu Devils’ sideline.
“I’m excited to add Coach Johnson to our staff,” said Dr. Linda Bell, director of athletics. “I think her background in physical therapy will provide Dillard with an advantage many institutions don’t have on the sideline.”
Dr. Johnson served two seasons as head coach of the Clark Atlanta University Lady Panthers volleyball team. Johnson had a successful inaugural season with a 13-11 (.542) record and brought the Lady Panthers to being ranked fourth in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). She finished her tenure there with an overall record of 26-31(.456). Johnson also served as the head men’s volleyball coach at Morehouse College. The team currently competes in the SIAC, the only HBCU conference to sponsor men’s volleyball.
“I want to thank Athletic Director Dr. Linda Bell for the opportunity to lead the Dillard Women’s Volleyball program that has already established a strong winning tradition,” Johnson said. “I’m excited to step in and develop a championship culture that will take this program to the next level and place us on the national stage.”
Johnson is from Bolingbrook, Illinois, and attended Bolingbrook High School where she played both basketball and volleyball. She played volleyball at IUPUI where she graduated with her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science in 2010. She finished her career as one of IUPUI’s top blockers, ranking second in solo blocks (55), block assists (273), and total blocks (328). She appeared in 119 matches in her career, the 10th highest total in school history.
She received her doctorate in physical therapy in 2015 from Hampton University. While at Hampton, she was a volunteer assistant for the Lady Pirates volleyball program.
Johnson spent three years in Tampa, Florida where she coached at Tampa Elite for two seasons and then opened her own club, Volleystar VBC. During that time, she was also head volleyball coach at Robinson High School where she was the winningest coach in school history with a 25-8 record in 2017. She also took the Lady Knights to the Florida High School Athletic Association’s 6A Final Four in 2017.
Dr. Johnson is a licensed physical therapist in the state of Georgia and the owner of DocJay Physical Therapy, an outpatient physical therapy practice with three metro Atlanta locations. Her life’s mission is to combine her ten-plus years of playing and coaching experience with the knowledge she acquired while earning her doctorate to create programming specifically for the volleyball athlete that can prevent future injuries and enhance performance.
For more information, please contact Assistant Athletic Director Matthew Bush at 504-816-4953 or mbush@dillard.edu.
About Dillard University
Dillard University is a historically Black institution that cultivates leaders who live ethically, think and communicate precisely, and act courageously to make the world a better place. Located in New Orleans, Dillard is a private faith-based liberal arts university that offers 22 majors and two certificate programs. Ranked 5th on 2021 The New York Times Overall Mobility Index and 14th in 2022 by Academic Influence for Best Colleges and Universities by Academic Stewardship, Dillard’s call to future leaders is to Write Your Legacy. Find out more about Louisiana’s oldest HBCU by visiting www.dillard.edu.
