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 Trent
Johnson became the 16th men's basketball head coach
in Stanford history on May 25, 2004. Johnson, who is
considered one of the true teachers of the game, is
a perfect fit for one of the most dominant
basketball programs in the last two decades.
Johnson, a Stanford assistant coach for three
seasons from 1996-99, held down the head coaching
spot at Nevada for five campaigns (1999-2004) before
returning to The Farm.
"Trent Johnson has become one of the top basketball
coaches in the country," said Stanford Athletic
Director Dr. Ted Leland. "He did a tremendous job in
his first season on The Farm and we are looking
forward to another exciting season of Stanford
Basketball in 2005-06."
In Johnson's first season on The Farm, he showed the
strength of his leadership style as Stanford dealt
with a season-ending injury to its leading scorer
and only nine healthy players competing at the end
of the year. But despite the obstacles, Johnson
helped lead the Cardinal to its11th consecutive NCAA
postseason appearance. With an 18-13 overall record
and 11-7 mark in the Pac-10 Conference (third place
finish), three players were tabbed to the Pac-10
All-Conference teams: Chris Hernandez (first team),
Dan Grunfeld (first team) and Matt Haryasz
(honorable mention). Hernandez and Grunfeld were
further honored as first-team NABC District-14
selections. In addition to the numerous "on the
court" accolades his players picked up, several
student-athletes were recognized for their work in
the classroom. Grunfeld was honored as a 2005 ESPN
The Magazine Academic Second Team All-American
selection while four of the five first-team Pac-10
All-Academic spots were awarded to Cardinal players
(Grunfeld, Hernandez, Rob Little and Nick Robinson).
Jason Haas was second team selection as well.
During the 2003-04 season, Johnson led Nevada to the
NCAA Sweet Sixteen for the first time in school
history as the Wolf Pack tied a school record with
25 wins (25-9). Nevada posted upset victories in the
2004 NCAA Tournament over Michigan State and Gonzaga
in their own backyard before the Wolf Pack was
finally beaten by eventual NCAA runner-up Georgia
Tech in a regional semifinal game. Nevada also tied
for a share of the Western Athletic Conference
regular season crown for the first time in school
history and captured the WAC Tournament
Championship.
In 2002-03, Johnson was named the WAC Coach of the
Year by CollegeInsider.com when the Wolf Pack
received an NIT bid and finished with an 18-14
record. Johnson also guided Nevada to the
championship game of the 2003 WAC Tournament.
Johnson proved his coaching and recruiting expertise
as he oversaw the rise of a previously struggling
Nevada program to the premier program in the WAC.
Prior to Johnson's arrival, Nevada had made just two
NCAA Tournament appearances in school history and
had never won an NCAA Tournament game. His success
included three players who were selected
all-conference, including Corey Jackson. Other
all-conference players included Terrance Green, the
nephew of NBA great A.C. Green, and Kirk Snyder, the
WAC league MVP and honorable mention All-American as
a junior. Snyder was the 16th player chosen in the
2004 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz, and is now playing
for the New Orleans Hornets.
Johnson posted a 79-74 record in his five seasons at
Nevada. During his three seasons as an assistant
coach at Stanford, the Cardinal made an appearance
in the NCAA Final Four for the second time in school
history (1997-98), reached the NCAA Sweet Sixteen
(1996-97, 1997-98) and captured the Pac-10 title
(1998-99), while chalking up a 78-20 (.796) overall
record.
Before his three-year stint at Stanford, Johnson
spent four years at Rice (1992-96). During his four
seasons with the Owls, Rice made an appearance in
the NIT.
Johnson was also an assistant coach at Washington
(1989-92). His 1991-92 recruiting class included two
of the top five newcomers in the Pacific-10
Conference, including the conference Freshman of the
Year Mark Pope.
Johnson began his Division I collegiate coaching
career at Utah (1986-89), where he established
himself as a top recruiter. He signed Josh Grant,
the 1990 WAC Most Valuable Player and Naismith Award
finalist. He was also responsible for recruiting
Jimmy Soto, a finalist for the College Little Big
Man Award. The Utes made two trips to the NIT during
Johnson's three seasons in Salt Lake City.
Johnson also coached on the high school level. He
was the head coach at Boise High School (1980-85)
leading them to the Idaho state title in 1980.
Johnson was also a successful player, lettering four
years and playing his way into the top 10 in scoring
and rebounding at Boise State (1974-78). During his
sophomore season (1975-76), the Broncos won the Big
Sky Conference Tournament and advanced to the NCAA
Tournament with former Stanford head coach Mike
Montgomery as an assistant.
The following year (1976-77), Johnson was named
Boise State's Most Improved Player and as a senior
(1977-78) he was the team's Most Inspirational
Player. Johnson also earned All-Big Sky Conference
honors in his final season in Boise.
Johnson played professionally for the Washington
Lumberjacks of the Western Basketball League.
Johnson currently serves on the National Association
of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Special Committee on
Recruiting and Access. This committee is comprised
of a select group of prominent coaches who suggest
ways to provide a more equitable and informational
recruiting process for the potential student-athlete
and to enhance the educational opportunities for
student-athletes while in college.
Johnson earned his Bachelor of Science degree in
Physical Education from Boise State in 1983.
Johnson and his wife, Jackie, have two children; a
daughter, Tinishia, 22, and a son, Terry, 19. |
