Germantown Academy Director of Athletics Josh MacArthur has announced the hiring of Kristen Johnson as the new head coach of the Girls Varsity Volleyball program. Johnson will also serve as an Upper School history teacher and Upper School assistant girls lacrosse coach.

“Kristen impressed our committee and student-athletes right from the start,” said MacArthur. “Her background, experience, and philosophy will be a terrific fit for our program and GA. She will be able to hit the ground running and our student-athletes will be ready as we head into fall pre-season.”

“I am really excited to resume coaching at the high school level and to work with talented athletes,” said Johnson. “GA volleyball has had some great accomplishments in the past and I am eager to continue to move the program forward."

Johnson brings 10 years of coaching experience to the Patriots. She was most recently the head varsity coach at Gwynedd Mercy University. Johnson improved the Griffins’ record from 9-19 (2017) to 12-15 (2018). In 2019, the Griffins advanced to postseason play for the first time since 2007.

Johnson also served as the head varsity coach at Westtown School and led the West Windsor Winter Volleyball Club. She has also coached at a number of summer camps, including camps at Gwynedd Mercy, Princeton University, Wheaton Academy, and Hope College.

Johnson first started playing volleyball over 15 years ago and her passion for the game still continues to grow. During her senior year at Wheaton Academy in West Chicago, Illinois, she received the award of All-Area Honorable Mention leading her team as captain to a conference championship.

She went on to play Division III volleyball for Hope College where she was a crucial part in the team's Final Four NCAA finish in 2009. She currently holds Hope College’s record for the most digs in a match (36) and is ranked in the program’s history for the highest digging average per game (7th), and the highest serving percentage (2nd). In 2009, as a senior, she received the Defensive Player of the Year Award along with Second Team All-Conference and an All-Regional Honorable Mention from the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

Johnson graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion, Classical Studies, Sociology from Hope College. She also earned her Master’s in Divinity from Princeton University.

The new coach takes over a 2019 Patriot team that went 17-2 (7-1 Inter-Academic Athletic League) and won a share of league title by splitting with Academy of Notre Dame de Namur. GA went on to the championship game of the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association Tournament where they fell to the Irish.

GA lose three seniors to graduation, including First Team All-League selection Caitlyn Priore ’20 and Second Team All-League selection Kelli Ramer ’20, but will see a solid nucleus of 10 underclassmen return, including First Team selection Natalie Schildt ’21 and Second Team selection Fiona McKenna ’23.