Jason Johnson was selected as the third head coach for Grand Valley State women's volleyball program on July 27, 2021. He is entering his 4th season as the head coach of the volleyball program in the 2024 campaign. He's been a full-time assistant with the Lakers and was named the associate head coach after helping guide the 2005 Lakers to the school’s first-ever Division II National Championship.
The 2024 season was another strong campaign for the Lakers. They began the year 21-1, setting a new program record for best start in team history, en route to a 28-4 overall record. They were the two seed in the NCAA Regional Tournament, advancing to the Round of 32. A program-record tying six Lakers were named All-GLIAC, three first team, two second team, and one honorable mention. Additionally, Jordyn Gates was named to both the AVCA All-Region team and an AVCA All-American.
In the 2023 season, the Lakers had one of their best seasons in over a decade, going 27-5 and winning the GLIAC regular season championship. This was the first conference title since 2013. They earned the five seed in the NCAA Regional tournament and advanced to the second round. Four Lakers earned All-GLIAC accolades, with Jordyn Gates being named GLIAC Player of the Year. Gates and Sarah Wight also both earned All-American honors, marking the first season since 2014 that multiple players were All-Americans.
The 2022 season saw the Lakers go 19-13 in Johnson's second year and make a run to the GLIAC conference tournament championship game. Under Johnson's tutelage, Jordyn Gates earned All-American and All-Region honors, and was one of four Lakers to earn All-GLIAC honors.
In his first season at the helm of the Lakers, Johnson led the team to 17-10 record and a spot in the NCAA Regional Tournament for the first time since 2015. GVSU went 10-4 in the GLIAC and earned the four seed in the conference tournament. Under his direction, five Lakers earned All-GLIAC honors and coached Ali Thompson to an All-Region selection.
Johnson has helped guide the Lakers to seven years of 30+ victories and a winning record in 19 out of the 21 years he has been associated with the program. He has also been a part of eight GVSU teams that advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight, six Laker squads that went to the NCAA Final Four, and the 2005 Division II National Championship team.
During Johnson's tenure as an assistant coach at Grand Valley State, the Lakers have also won 10 GLIAC North Division championships, two GLIAC South Division champion, and six GLIAC Tournament titles. GVSU has totaled six GLIAC Player of the Year winners, four GLIAC Libero of the Year honorees, four GLIAC Freshman of the Year selections, and one GLIAC Setter of the Year (awarded for the first time in 2014), and one GLIAC Blocker of the Year in his time in Allendale.
He has also coached 19 GVSU players that have earned a total of 34 All-America honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) or the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA, formerly Daktronics, Inc.). Johnson has led a total of 61 All-Midwest/Great Lakes Region honorees during his time at Grand Valley State, 37 of which came from the AVCA and another 26 from the D2CAA.
Before coming to Grand Valley State, Johnson was the head volleyball coach at Allendale High School for six years, leading the Falcons to a district championship in 1997 and a conference championship in 1999.
He was an assistant coach at Kalamazoo Valley Community College from 1993 to 1995. Johnson has been a volunteer coach with many area youth volleyball programs, including Inside-Out Club 18's, USA Michigan Kent 18's, and Sports Performance Volleyball camps.
Johnson competed in track and cross country at Portage Central High School. He graduated from Grand Valley State in December 1998 with a bachelor's degree in Physical Education and earned his Master's degree in Education in May 2014.
Jason and his wife Brandy were married on June 14, 2003. The couple has a son, Noah, and a daughter, Rylie.
