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Head Coach
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"Individuals play the game, but teams win championships."
Disa Johnson begins her sixth season at the helm of the Missouri Tiger Volleyball program. Her winning philosophy has taken the Tigers out of the conference cellar and has turned them into a successful team, challenging for a Big 12 Conference championship.
Johnson has stressed balance between academics and athletics for all of her student-athletes. This has proven to be a successful combination as she has hit the recruiting trail. Academically, the volleyball squad has been just as successful. Last year, the Tigers had a GPA of 3.0. That number has not fallen since she came to MU six years ago.
Athletically, over the past three years, Johnson has inked the best talent ever assembled for Mizzou volleyball.
In 1997, Johnson signed Missouri’s first ever Fab 50 recruit in setter Heather Gerber. Gerber has been the pivotal player in Johnson’s program rebuilding campaign. In 1999, she signed the top student-athletes out of both St. Louis, Mo., and Kansas City, Mo. Each class that Johnson has recruited has contained all-state selections who have been successful multi-sport athletes. She now feels that she has created the right core group of athletes and has surrounded the group with the perfect support cast.
Johnson began her career at Mizzou after spending four seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Illinois. During those four seasons, the Fighting Illini posted a 90-39 record, finishing 17th in the nation in 1990, 1991, and 1993, and as high as fifth in 1992. Prior to her coaching stint at Illinois, Johnson spent over a year-and-a-half as an assistant coach at the University of Nebraska-Omaha (1989), with the team finishing in the top-10 nationally.
Johnson, a native of Western Springs, Illinois, is a 1988 graduate of the University of Illinois, where she earned a bachelor of science degree in kinesiology with a minor in business. In 1992, she received her masters degree in kinesiology and sports administration from the University of Illinois. An all-Big Ten setter from 1984-87, Johnson established the all-time career assist record at Illinois with 5,516 assists in 141 matches. She served as captain of the Fighting Illini volleyball squad in 1986 and 1987, helping Illinois win consecutive Big Ten Championships and advance to the 1987 NCAA National Championship semifinals. She capped her career by earning GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-America second-team honors.
In conjunction with her playing and coaching experience, Johnson has 15 years of camp experience. She conducts her own camp and coaching clinics every summer on Mizzou’s campus. When not coaching, she still finds time to play at the USVA Open National Tournament.
Johnson, 33, was born March 3, 1966, in Hinsdale, Illinois. She resides in Columbia and is engaged to Ron Garner, former head women’s Track and Field coach at Clemson University. They are to be married next spring.
Johnson's Coaching Record
ASSISTANT COACH
Year School Record Pct. Conf. Place
1989 UN-Omaha 26-18 .591 8-3 3rd
1990 Illinois 21-12 .636 11-7 4th
1991 Illinois 19-10 .655 14-6 4th
1992 Illinois 32-4 .889 19-1 1st
1993 Illinois 18-13 .581 14-6 3rd
Totals 5 years 116-57 .671 66-23
HEAD COACH
Year School Record Pct. Conf. Place
1994 Missouri 9-24 .273 0-12 7th
1995 Missouri 6-25 .194 1-11 6th
1996 Missouri 0-28 .000 0-20 *11th
1997 Missouri 15-20 .428 4-14 *9th
1998 Missouri 14-19 .424 5-15 *8th
Totals 5 years 44-116 .275 10-72
* Denotes Big 12 play.
