STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton State has hired Jazmyne Johnson as the next head coach for Texan Volleyball, Tarleton Athletics announced on Tuesday.
Johnson becomes the 19th head coach in Tarleton State Volleyball program history. She arrives in Stephenville after spending the previous four seasons with the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, the last two of which as Associate Head Coach.
“Jazmyne Johnson is a rising star in the coaching ranks and I’m confident she will do great things for our volleyball program,” said Vice President and Director of Athletics Steve Uryasz.
“She knows what it takes to recruit, and her strong work ethic plus infectious personality make her the right choice to be our next head volleyball coach. Coach Johnson has strong Texas ties that will be key in keeping the state’s elite student-athletes home right here in Stephenville.
“I want to thank Deputy Athletic Director Eric Heier and Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director / SWA Dr. Megan O’Quin as they helped lead the committee in the search for our next head volleyball coach,” Uryasz continued. “This is a great day for our volleyball program and a great day for Tarleton State Athletics.”
Johnson has climbed the collegiate ranks to head coach after coaching at Louisiana (Associate Head Coach in 2023-24, Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator in 2021-22), Norfolk State (Assistant Coach in 2020), Harding (Graduate Assistant in 2019) and Texas Woman’s University (Assistant Coach in 2018). Johnson also spent time as a head coach with 360 Volleyball Club in Texas after a standout playing career at both Mississippi State (2015-16) and Middle Tennessee State (2012-14).
“I cannot thank Steve Uryasz enough for giving me such an amazing opportunity to be the next head coach at Tarleton State,” Johnson said. “I am excited to continue to build on the traditions and legacy of Tarleton State. I am thankful to my many mentors who have helped prepare me for this moment. I want to personally thank [Louisiana Volleyball head coach] Kristi Gray for preparing me for this position over the past four years. I am extremely grateful God saw it fit for me to step into this role and be able to continue to inspire and mentor young women of the next generation. I am excited to get involved with the community of Stephenville and join the Texan family.”
Johnson was hired in 2021 by Gray as an assistant coach for the Ragin’ Cajuns, then was elevated to Associate Head Coach in 2023. Johnson’s duties included working with the hitters and middle blockers, plus serving as both the defensive and recruiting coordinator.
This past season, Johnson guided the Ragin’ Cajuns’ starting middle blocker to All-Sun Belt Conference honors, as the senior posted 135 blocks, a Louisiana single-season record. She led the SBC in blocks per set (1.4), plus was No. 20 nationally in the category.
In the 2023 season, Johnson helped coach the Ragin’ Cajuns to their best overall record (19-13) since 2017, a season that was highlighted by a road victory over No. 18 Rice. Her guidance of the team’s blocking technique led to Louisiana improving its numbers in the 2022 season from 2.02 blocks per set to 2.27 blocks per set which ranked fourth in the Sun Belt Conference.
“Jaz is always going to be her true self no matter what,” Gray said. “She is genuine, extremely hard working and truly values the meaning of relationships. Most importantly, Jaz is dedicated to making everyone around her better and does a phenomenal job doing so. Tarleton State is getting one of a kind. Jaz is relentless when it comes to recruiting and is very well connected in Texas. She values the well-being of her student-athletes’ growth both on and off the court, and is a true competitor. I am excited to watch her take Tarleton State to new heights.”
Johnson’s stint at Norfolk State included six completed matches as the Spartans navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, with 12 matches canceled in the spring of 2021. In 2019, Johnson helped Harding finish 21-11 overall and 10-6 in Great American Conference play, with a championship match run in the GAC Tournament. In 2018, Johnson’s Texas Woman’s University squad finished 18-13 overall, and 10-10 in the Lone Star Conference.
“Jazmyne has both an immense passion and profound love for the sport of volleyball, which really is the foundation of why she’ll be a great head coach,” Louisiana State head volleyball coach Tonya Johnson said. “The unique thing that will set her apart from so many other coaches in this industry is her ability to genuinely connect with people, and empower her athletes to become the best versions of themselves on and off the court. I think fans need to be prepared for a super energetic coach that is going to outwork her peers, and someone who will invest in the entire community at Tarleton State.”
Johnson was a standout middle blocker, finishing with 399 career blocks. She led the Bulldogs in blocks with 136 her senior year and 89 as a junior. Her 136 blocks in 2016 ranks fourth in a single-season in program history, and she helped the Bulldogs to their first winning season in nine years upon her arrival in 2015.
“Congratulations to Jazmyne, and Tarleton State, you have made an excellent hire,” Eastern Michigan Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Wetherbee said, who was the Mississippi State Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs from 2013-17. “I’ve enjoyed watching Jazmyne grow from a student-athlete at Mississippi State to one of the brightest up-and-coming coaches in college volleyball. Jazmyne is a person of high integrity and character who is a great recruiter. She will bring a lot of excitement, enthusiasm, and wins to Stephenville. I look forward to watching her lead the Texan Volleyball program!”
Johnson also played three seasons at Middle Tennessee State from 2012-14. After redshirting her freshman year, Johnson played in 52 total matches, posting 174 career blocks and 326 career kills.
“When I think of Jazmyne Johnson, I think first of her incredible smile and intense determination,” Middle Tennessee State Deputy Athletic Director and Senior Women’s Administrator Diane Turnham said. “As a player and as a coach, she has the most infectious spirit. She gives her all to achieve success personally and especially professionally. She will give her all to the program and she will instill a great work ethic by her example. She will demand the best of herself and her athletes. She will be a strong force working to improve herself her athletes and the athletic program as a whole. She will be a great addition to the Tarleton State athletic program as the new head volleyball coach. I look forward to seeing her succeed.
“The athletic program and fans can expect a passion to excel,” Turnham continued. “Jazmyne will personally be demanding and one of the hardest workers you have seen in your athletic program. That’s what I always saw in her as a player and I expect it to be exactly the same as a head coach. She is a winner and she will work to make sure her team perform at the highest level. She will demand everyone’s best and she will put a quality program on the floor each game. I wish her great success.”
Johnson received her bachelor’s degree in communications with a concentration in broadcast journalism from Mississippi State in December 2016. She earned her master’s in business administration from Harding in December 2020.
“Jazmyne Johnson is driven and dedicated as a professional, plus loyal and genuine as a person,” Arizona head volleyball coach Charita Stubbs said. “She has high energy and is driven to be the best. She operates with high expectations. I’m super excited for her. She will get the best out of everyone.”
Johnson was a 2020 AVCA Diversity Award recipient and is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated. She currently serves on the AVCA Assistant coaches committee.
Be the first to comment