Sterling Johnson enters his second season as assistant coach for GVSU for the 2025-26 season.
In his first season at GVSU in 2024-25, Johnson helped lead the Lakers to a 16-13 overall record and 12-8 GLIAC mark. Two Lakers earned All-GLIAC second team honors and three were named to the All-GLIAC defensive team which was the most out of any teams in the conference.
Prior to coming to GVSU, Johnson spent one season as a graduate assistant at Virginia Tech where was responsible for assisting with player development, film breakdown and scouting reports. During his time there, he helped the Hokies reach the second round of the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) before losing to Ohio State.
Before arriving at Virginia Tech, Johnson gained experience at Northwood University, Schoolcraft College, the University of Northwestern Ohio, and Defiance College. While at Schoolcraft, he supported the development of three players who advanced their athletic careers, including assisting Keionte Cornelius, the second-leading scorer in all of NJCAA Division II, who went on to sign with Division I Jackson State. At the University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH), he coached Nathan Lessing, the school’s fourth all-time leading scorer. Additionally, Johnson played a key role in UNOH qualifying for the conference tournament for the first time in three years. At Defiance College, he was responsible for recruiting Marrell Jordan, the school’s tenth leading scorer.
Johnson was a four-year letterwinner at Saginaw Valley State from 2012 to 2016, appearing in 108 games. During his senior campaign in 2015-16, he was part of the winningest team in program history, which advanced to the Elite Eight while he shot 46% from the field and 43% from three-point range that season.
He earned his bachelor's degree from Saginaw Valley State University in 2016 and went on to obtain a Master of Business Administration from Defiance College in 2019. Most recently, he received a degree in Agricultural Life Sciences with a focus on Education from Virginia Tech in 2024.
