BY JIM MISUNAS
HUTCHINSON – Hutchinson High volleyball coach Tina Johnson, a longtime Hoisington Cardinal volleyball coach, will be inducted into the Kansas Volleyball Coaches Hall of Fame at 1 p.m. Saturday in Topeka. The KVA All-Star Banquet is scheduled at the Washburn University Grand Ballroom.
When Johnson started at Hoisington, the Cardinals were 2-27 and she was the fifth head coach in five seasons. Johnson coached 24 years at Hoisington before a 10-year stint at 6A Hutchinson High. Johnson guided five teams to the state volleyball tournament.
“I am humbled about being inducted into the Hall of Fame,” Johnson said. “After years of doing what I love, this is a pretty prestigious honor. When you love what you do every day it doesn't seem like a job. It is truly my passion. I’m thankful. I'd do it all again in a heartbeat.”
Johnson has committed her career to helping athletes through the sport of volleyball and track. She teaches life skills that will carry on like hard work, ethics, responsibility, and dedication.
“My favorite word is grit – having passion and stamina,” she said. “It’s sticking things out day-in and day-out for years. Grit is working hard. It’s like running a marathon not a sprint. It is getting over obstacles successfully like the hurdles. It's having a solid work ethic. Talent doesn't make you gritty. Growth mindset makes you gritty. To have the ability to learn and change with your effort is the key to growth mindset.”
Being a lifelong learner is important to Johnson.
“I have begged, borrowed, and stolen from great coaches, teachers and administrators,” Johnson said. “I’ve been blessed to be surrounded around great administration, educators, coaches and mentors. I have a great support group in the education world and coaching world as well as in my family. I’m the blessed one to get to work with such phenomenal human beings every day.”
Johnson said she appreciates the opportunity to help shape high school students into better citizens.
“To watch kids, transform into young, confident productive, successful citizens is the ultimate reward,” she said. “I’ve been lucky to have kids with great work ethics from a young age. It has to be important to the athletes and students. You have to build relationships. You have to give them ownership. They all seem to form a passion for what they are good at.”
Tina's passion is to help kids build confidence and learn to become successful not just in the classroom or on the athletic field, but in life.
“Hoisington was 2-27 the year before I took over. When I took over at Hutchinson, they were struggling in their program also. Coming to Hutchinson has been a great experience,” Johnson said. “I learned about teamwork and our administration has been incredible leaders. They’ve given me the tools for success.”
Johnson was recently awarded a longevity award from the Kansas Cross Country and Track and Field Coaches Association. Johnson has coached six state champions in the hurdles and six state runners-ups in the hurdles. She has served as president of the KVA and on the executive board. She is registered as a KSHSAA volleyball and basketball official.
Central Plains Oiler all-stater Kassidy Nixon will compete in the annual Kansas Volleyball Association All-Star Match that starts at 6:30 p.m. Saturday
