Dr. Joan D. Johnson
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California State University, Los Angeles
1996
Dr. Joan D. Johnson (b.1929), professor, administrator and coach at California State University, Los Angeles, devoted her career to developing women’s intercollegiate tennis. Johnson joined the Cal State faculty in 1955 and soon helped to pioneer the Southern California Women’s Intercollegiate Tennis League. In 1957, she became coach of the first women’s tennis team at Cal State; her players included, among others, the legendary Billie Jean King, and several national collegiate champions as well as many state and regional champions.
An experienced tournament player, Johnson competed in three of the four Grand Slam events – the championships of England, Australia and the U.S. – and she also won an amazing 18 national public parks titles. She has directed numerous tournaments and served on a variety of USTA and intercollegiate committees. In 1985, Johnson became a charter member of the Cal State-LA Athletic Hall of Fame.
Career Highlights
- B.S.’51 University of Wisconsin at Madison; M.S.’55 University of Southern California (outstanding thesis award); Ph.D.’65 USC
18 National Public Parks Championships; Singles 1960-1962, 1970; Doubles 1952-1954, 1957-1958, 1961-1964; Mixed Doubles 1962-1963, 1970; Women’s 40 Singles and Doubles 1970
Member, USTA Women’s Collegiate Championships Committee 1959-1968
World Tennis magazine’s Marlboro Award for contributions to tennis 1963
Member, Tennis Games Committee of the U.S. Collegiate Sports Council 1969-1979
vUSTA Women’s Tennis Leadership Award 1970
Southern California Tennis Association Coach of the Year Award 1974
Chair, AIAW Tennis Committee 1976-1979
Chair, Department of Physical Education and Athletics, Cal State-LA 1977-1980
Coach of the U.S. women’s tennis team at the 1977 World University Games in Sofia, Bulgaria
Oustanding Professor Award, Cal State-LA 1978
Director, AIAW Division II National Tennis Championship 1980
Charter Member, Cal State-LA Athletic Hall of Fame 1985
Awarded Professor Emerita Status, Cal State-LA 1992
Tournament coordinator, Ojai Valley, California Intercollegiate Tennis Tournament (96th annual in 1996), 1978 – to date