Western Kentucky University women’s basketball head coach Greg Collins has announced the addition of Tara Johns to his coaching staff.
“I am thrilled to add Tara Johns, Coach T, to our staff and team,” said Collins. “She brings great recruiting and coaching experience that allows her to hit the ground running. She has been a part of winning programs in junior college and at South Florida. Most importantly, Tara is proud of and enthusiastic about WKU, Bowling Green, and Lady Topper Basketball. Her experience and passion for WKU make Tara and her husband, Chris, a perfect fit. We’re excited they’re part of the family.”
Johns comes to The Hill from USF where she was assistant coach and director of operations for the last two seasons. Johns, formally Arnold, played at WKU during the 2009-10 season before transferring to Morehead State and finishing out her playing career at Lindsey Wilson. She’s a native of Frankfort, Kentucky.
“I am so excited to be back here on The Hill!” said Johns. “I have loved this university ever since my childhood and it has been a dream of mine to be able to coach here at WKU. I’m happy to be back in my Kentucky home and so grateful that Coach Collins has added me to his staff. With this historic winning program, I am excited to get to work this season alongside such talented players and coaches.”
Before coaching at USF, she worked at the university as an executive administrative specialist working with USF’s Vice President of Athletics Michael Kelly in 2021.
Prior to that, she was an assistant coach at Northwest Florida State College where the team won the 2020-21 NJCAA National Championship. In her time with the team, Johns helped lead the squad to a 51-6 record and consecutive Panhandle Conference titles. In 2020, Johns earned the WBCA Thirty Under Thirty award for being one of the top coaches in the nation under 30 years old.
Johns was an assistant coach at Wabash Valley College from 2018-19. The Warriors won 32 consecutive games before falling in the NJCAA Elite Eight during her time with the program. She was also at Morehead State (2016-18), helping guide the Eagles to a 42-21 record as director of operations.
She is a 2014 graduate of Lindsey Wilson, earning a bachelor’s degree in communications. She holds a master’s degree from WKU in recreation and sports administration with a concentration in media and branding. During that time, she worked with the Hilltopper Sports Properties team as a radio and television commentator for women’s basketball games.
Johns is filling a vacancy left by former Lady Topper Ivy (Brown) Woodcock, who recently welcomed a baby with her husband Zeke.
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