Greg Johnson is serving as head coach for women’s soccer in its inaugural season at GateWay. He hopes the program will hit the ground running and brings a wealth of coaching experience to Gecko Athletics.
“It is our goal to be competitive this year and to play the entirety of each game at the highest pace possible,” Coach Johnson explains.
A Valley native, Johnson attended Dobson High School where he played Goalkeeper and Center Midfielder for the soccer squad. After graduating in 1990 he wore blue and silver for two years at South Mountain Community College. His career as a student athlete continued as he transferred to MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois. At MacMurray Greg was a two year starter helping lead the team to the finals of the St. Louis Athletic Conference Championship in 1992.
With a passion for the sport, Johnson shifted directly from athlete to coach, becoming the Assistant Coach for the women’s soccer team at MacMurray from 1995-1996. With a year of experience in his pocket, Johnson relocated to Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, Texas. As an assistant for the Division I Ladyjacks, he helped guide the team to two consecutive Southland Conference Championships.
In 1999 Johnson returned to the Valley and found himself once again at South Mountain Community College. For the Cougars he served on the women’s staff for one year and transitioned into the head coaching position for the men’s team. He led the men’s squad for three years from 2001-2003 where the Cougars narrowly missed making the ACCAC playoffs. His last stop before becoming a part of Gateway Athletics was Mesa Community College, where he worked with the men’s team from 2004-2007.
Greg has been a coach for the Arizona Olympic Development program since 1999 and has worked on the Region IV staff as well. Additionally, Greg currently coaches club soccer for the Gilbert Arsenal and has sent numerous players to college during his time in the valley of the sun.
With years of coaching on his resume, Johnson welcomes the opportunity to build the GateWay program from the ground up. He is seeking players who want to compete at the next level while focusing on the pursuit of a degree. He currently resides in Gilbert and when he is not coaching enjoys spending time with his wife and young son.