Mike Johnston

Mike Johnston serves as Head Women's Soccer Coach, Adjunct Professor in the Department of Kinesiology, and Head Sports Performance Specialist at Greensboro College. Appointed head coach in spring 2022 after three seasons as assistant coach, he has elevated the Pride to consecutive USA South Tournament Semifinals appearances (2023-2024) with double-digit wins, including 11 victories in 2024 featuring USA South Player of the Year Amery Skinner. His academic role leverages 20+ years of interdisciplinary expertise spanning collegiate athletics, sports medicine education, and performance training.

Johnston's academic foundation stems from UNC Greensboro (UNCG), where he earned both his Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sports Science with Sport Coaching minor and Master of Science in Sports Medicine and Kinesiology. His educational philosophy emphasizes practical application, having previously chaired the Sports Medicine and Wellness Department at Middle College at UNCG (2019-2022) while teaching at both UNCG and American Hebrew Academy.

His scholarly focus centers on the intersection of kinesiology and athletic performance, particularly:

• Biomechanical optimization for soccer-specific movements
• Periodized strength and conditioning protocols
• Youth athlete development pathways
• Leadership psychology in team sports

These interests directly inform his coaching methodology, which prioritizes holistic athlete development over pure technical training.

Professional recognition includes:

• 1A private school state coach of the year (girls' soccer, 2017-2018)
• 1A private regional coach of the year (girls' soccer, 2017-2019)
• Boys regional coach of the year (2017)

awarded by the North Carolina Soccer Coaches Association during his 14-year tenure at American Hebrew Academy.

Johnston's unique value proposition lies in his triple-threat expertise: classroom instruction in kinesiology, evidence-based performance programming, and competitive coaching success. His teaching directly benefits from real-time application with NCAA Division III athletes, while his coaching gains scientific rigor through academic frameworks. This integration creates exceptional experiential learning opportunities for kinesiology students observing performance protocols in action.