LHJH’s 8th grade A team made a sign for their beloved coach
After 35 years of coaching and teaching, Gladys Johnson is retiring as Athletic Director for Lake Highlands Junior High and Head Coach of the Lady Wildcat volleyball team. Monday night, in the final game of the regular season, she was congratulated by her team with high-fives and hugs.
Johnson, originally from small-town East Texas, showed up at LHJH in 1980 excited about the new challenge.
“Gladys has spent her entire career at LHJH, 35 years in all,” said Mark Gibson, LHJH Athletic Coordinator. “She has won numerous volleyball district championships and has instilled confidence and sense of worth in hundreds of girls. She has served as Girls’ Athletic Coordinator as well as the PE department chair. Throughout her time in LH, she has also taught math and coached basketball and track as well. She is an institution at LHJH and will be dearly missed.”
Not only a fixture at sporting events at the junior high, Johnson is known as a supporter of Wildcat athletics at the high school. She’s often seen attending volleyball games to cheer on former students, and she’s happy to take on the chore of keeping score when needed.
LHJH’s gift to their coach? A win over Richardson North in the final home game of the season.
Congratulations for Johnson continues this weekend, as the Lady Wildcat 8th grade A team participates in the annual end-of-season tournament at Berkner High School. The first match is tonight (Thursday) at 7:30 p.m. A new athletic director and volleyball coach have not been named.
Johnson has coached at LHJH for 35 years.
