June 12, 2006

SAN MARCOS - Noel Johnson, a member of the women's basketball coaching staff since 1997, was named Texas State's associate head coach and recruiting coordinator Monday by Bobcat head coach Suzanne Fox.

"Noel is an excellent teacher of the game, unquestionably outstanding recruiter and is very deserving of this opportunity and the responsibilities reflected in this title," Fox said. "We are very fortunate to have Noel on our staff and now [serving] as associate head coach. This promotion is a well-deserved acknowledgement of the indelible mark that she has made in every facet of success that our basketball program has achieved."

The 2006-07 season will mark Johnson's tenth in San Marcos after serving as an administrative intern at her alma mater, Texas Tech.

A 1995 graduate of Tech, Johnson was a four-year letter winner and helped the Lady Raiders to four Southwest Conference titles, four NCAA Sweet 16 appearances and the 1993 national championship.

Johnson is still one of the SWC's most prolific three-point shooter, and sits in second in Texas Tech's all-time record book for career three-pointers, career three-point attempts and single-season three-point percentage. Her career percentage is fourth all-time for the Lady Raiders.

Johnson was named to the All-SWC team on three occasions and earned All-Region honors once. She was the first ever recipient of the Jeannine McHaney Award, an honor given to the Texas Tech female athlete who most displace classroom excellence, courage on the court and a commitment to excellence.

Last summer, Johnson was named to the Texas Tech Hall of Honor and was inducted prior to the beginning of the 2005-06 season in ceremonies that took place during the Texas Tech-Texas A&M football game weekend.

In Johnson's tenure at Texas State, she has helped guide the Bobcats to a pair of 18-win seasons and one Southland Conference tournament title and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2003.

While at Texas State, Johnson has also helped the Bobcats to remain at or near the top of the league in three-point shooting, including producing the league's top three-point shooter, Tamara Thompson, in the 2004-05 campaign.

"I'm honored and excited to be named Associate Head Coach at Texas State," said Johnson. "I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude of coach Fox for the opportunities that she has allowed me to continually grow as both a person and a coach and I look forward to the responsibility with this promotion and hope to continue to make the program grow and be successful in all aspects."