Sports Spotlight Noel Johnson, February 20th, 2013
By: Alex Zannes
Updated: February 20, 2013
Twenty years later the 1993 Texas Tech Lady Red Raiders national championship team was back together again, including MSU head coach Noel Johnson, a starter on the '93 Tech squad. All of the players on that team were honored at halftime of the Texas, Texas Tech game on Sunday, allowing Johnson to re-live that magical season, "We all really recall the wins...Of beating U.T. for the first time at U.T. Of hosting the NCAA's, and then going to regionals in Montana. But probably the number one memory i have of that season is after it was done and how Lubbock responded to us winning and the welcome home that we had."
The 1993 Lady Red Raiders still hold tech's only Women's basketball national championship, Noel Johnson parlaying her success on the court into a coaching career, "I've always known i wanted to be a coach...I grew up...My dad was a school administrator...My sister is a teacher my brother was going that direction...I've always known this is what i wanted to do i love basketball...It's created so much for me so i wanted to give back i wanted to create those opportunities for these kids..."
Johnson says the influence of her former coach marsha sharp has stayed with her throughout hre coaching career, "I feel like i'm a product of my environment from coach Sharp and being classy and having integrity with what i do and hopefully creating opportunities for these young ladies in life by teaching them hard work and the ethics of life that she taught me and i know that's something that i want to pass on to my kids..."
In her fourth season at MSU coach Johnson added Lone Star Conference Coach of the year to her resume, saying that her ultimate goal is to follow in the footsteps of Kim Mulkey at Baylor by winning a National Championship both as a player and a coach.
