Catchin' Up with Coach
Susie Johnson has been on the MKE bench for half of the program's NCAA Division I seasons
This marks the 50th year of Milwaukee volleyball. How does it feel knowing you've been on the bench for half that time?
It is an honor to be here for that long. It is a bit of a rarity in college athletics. It is cool to be able to reflect on the last 25 years on the different players, the different seasons, all of the successes of the program and thinking about the great history.
How has volleyball changed from when you first started coaching?
It has gotten a lot more physical – players are bigger, faster, stronger, and jump higher. The sport of volleyball has grown a ton in terms of participation at a very young level. They are much younger starting volleyball, and in the Midwest, it has really grown. The other thing that has changed is our conference. We've lost teams and added teams and it is a very strong conference. It's gotten better and better so that has created challenges but also offered
The competitiveness has come out and year after year and we have to be creative about how we are going to have an edge and compete. Every year is different and that's the beauty of this profession – you're challenged with not just daily business, but the other teams are trying to beat you and you are trying to beat them and how do you do it.
Has your coaching style changed over the years?
I can reflect back to my first year when I was a head coach at 23. I was extremely competitive and still am. I care about my student-athletes and still do. I don't think my style has changed all that much but I've been able to adapt different personalities and styles. My knowledge has increased but I want to continue to learn and get better.
What has kept you at Milwaukee for so long? When you started, did you see yourself here as long as you have been?
Anyone that goes into coaching, especially Division I, is unsure about the future because it is very competitive. At Milwaukee, I feel supported over the years as a coach and as a person. They've wanted to keep me here and I have been able to raise my family. It has been awesome to be here in the highest level and also raise my family in this community. It is a special place with a big school in a small community feel and that's how we operate.
Speaking of family, this year, your daughter joins the team. When did that become reality?
When she expressed interest in playing volleyball, but I always felt that if she wants to play, I'll coach her. I've had the role of her club coach in the past as well as being the head coach here. I've been able to watch her grow as a player and train her. In the last couple years, it became more of a reality. It had to be a match for her – it was her choice to have me as a coach and come to UWM. For us, it was a family discussion and she's a great fit for here. She's what we need, and she wanted to be here. It's pretty spectacular that it worked out.
You have 254 total wins as head coach, just 18 behind Kathy Litzau as the most NCAA Division I wins in program history. Did you ever think about reaching that when you first started?
When I was on Kathy's staff, we were a great team. We worked well together, we raised families and built a program. Year-to-year we focused on winning and graduating student-athletes. That was the main though process. Kathy expressed interest in administration and that is when head coaching became a possibility and reality. For me, those first 10 years, I was focused on building the program as a staff.
In reality, this business is climb, climb, climb, but for me, I wanted it to make sense for my life and I want to be the greatest I can be in my job and as a mom. That to me has been awesome that I've been able to do that and had success here along the way.
If you could pick one out, do you have a most memorable season?
I would say my first season as head coach. There were five players where I was their assistant and then I became their head coach when they were seniors. They embraced me and let me be myself. They believed in me and the program and we had a lot of success that season. Another memorable season was this past one. We had some years in between winning a championship and this group of seniors had all played since their freshman year. They showed growth, development, and commitment – all of the things we hope for in a program where people stay and work hard to hold themselves accountable.
You've had some all-time greats at MKE play for you – players of the year, hall of famers. Where does a player like Ari fit in?
Ari could potentially be one of the best players we've ever had. She has the physicality in terms of size. She has probably one of the highest levels of athleticism. She also has coachability and work ethic.
What's next for Milwaukee volleyball?
We have high hopes for this incoming class and the program. Our goal is the win conference and the tournament and go to the NCAA tournament. Within the next few years, we want to win in the first round and do something the program has never done before.
