Boston College Director of Athletics Brad Bates announced today that the University has extended the contract of head women’s basketball coach Erik Johnson through the 2018-19 season.
"Erik Johnson is an outstanding leader who embodies the Boston College motto of ‘Ever to Excel’," Director of Athletics Brad Bates said. "Erik has built a sound foundation for our women’s basketball program and has it headed in the right direction. Our program is in good hands."
"Thank you to Brad Bates and Fr. Leahy for all their support in building this program the ‘BC way’ with strong young women of high character who excel both on and off the court; I believe so strongly in Boston College, the progress our players have made, and the direction that this program is headed," said Coach Erik Johnson. "This group of players will accomplish great things as they mature and develop. Our success in recruiting also makes each year even more exciting than the next. I’m thrilled to be committed to Boston College for many years to come. "
Johnson was hired in April of 2012 and took over a program that had won only seven games, including just two in the ACC.
In Johnson’s first season the team improved to 12-19 overall, including five ACC regular season victories and a first round win over Virginia in the ACC Tournament. In non-conference play, BC scored exciting home victories over Rutgers and BYU.
The Eagles also led the ACC and were 44th in the country in free throw percentage. With Johnson at the helm, guard Nicole Boudreau was named to the All-ACC Freshman team, only the third BC rookie to be named to the team in program history.
In the 2013-14 season, Johnson’s second season, the Eagles finished 12-19 overall and went 3-13 in conference play. The team posted key wins over Virginia Tech, Miami and Virginia. The Eagles broke the single-season program record for three’s made (240) and ranked 15th in the country in three-point field goal percentage. The team also finished 24th in the country in free throw percentage.
Last season, Johnson’s young team consistently started two and sometimes three rookies, two sophomores and a junior. The team finished the season with a 13-17 overall record and after being projected to finish last in the ACC, BC went 5-11 and placed 11th in the conference.
The young Eagles had a signature victory over then No. 13 Duke at Conte Forum. It was the program’s first win over a ranked opponent since the 2011 season. The team also registered conference wins over Clemson, Wake Forest, NC State and Virginia Tech.
In Johnson’s three seasons, the team has made continued improvements on the court and in the classroom. This season, Nicole Boudreau and Kelly Hughes were named to the All-ACC Academic team. The Eagles also had four athletes on the 2013-14 All-ACC honor roll – Boudreau, Hughes, Alexa Coulombe and Katie Zenevitch.
