ITA Women's Hall of Fame
McCormack-Nagelsen Tennis Center

Dr. Joan D. Johnson

Joan D. Johnson (b.1929), professor, administrator and coach at California State University, Los Angeles, devoted her career to developing women's intercollegiate tennis. Johnson joined the Cal State faculty in 1955 and soon helped to pioneer the Southern California Women's Intercollegiate Tennis League. In 1957 she became coach of the first women's tennis team at Cal State; her players included, among others, the legendary Billie Jean King, several national collegiate champions as well as many state and regional champions.

An experienced tournament player, Johnson competed in three of the four Grand Slam events - the champtionships of England, Australia and the U.S. - and she also won an amazing 18 national Public parks titles. She has directed numerous tournaments and served on a variety of USTA and intercollegiate committees. In 1985 Johnson became a charter member of the Cal State-LA Athletic hall of Fame.

 

Career Highlights

B.S.'51 University of Wisconsin at Madison; M.S.'55 University of Southern California (outstanding thesis award); Ph.D.'65 USC

18 National Public Parks Championships; Singles 1960-1962, 1970; Doubles 1952-1954, 1957-1958, 1961-1964; Mixed Doubles 1962-1963, 1970; Women's 40 Singles and Doubles 1970

Member, USTA Women's Collegiate Championships Committee 1959-1968

World Tennis magazine's Marlboro Award for contributions to tennis 1963

Member, Tennis Games Committee of the U.S. Collegiate Sports Council 1969-1979

vUSTA Women's Tennis Leadership Award 1970

Southern California Tennis Association Coach of the Year Award 1974

Chair, AIAW Tennis Committee 1976-1979

Chair, Department of Physical Education and Athletics, Cal State-LA 1977-1980

Coach of the U.S. women's tennis team at the 1977 World University Games in Sofia, Bulgaria

Oustanding Professor Award, Cal State-LA 1978

Director, AIAW Division II National Tennis Championship 1980

Charter Member, Cal State-LA Athletic Hall of Fame 1985

Awarded Professor Emerita Status, Cal State-LA 1992

Tournament coordinator, Ojai Valley, California Intercollegiate Tennis Tournament (96th annual in 1996), 1978 - to date

 

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