Bio

Heather Johnson joined the Northwood University track & field coaching staff during the fall of 2021. Johnson served as an assistant bringing her experience to the sprints, hurdles, and relays. She was promoted to Associate Head Coach for track & field in September of 2023.

 In her first year with the Timberwolves, she coached one of two individual Indoor Conference Champions for Northwood with Xzavia Price in the 60m Dash (6.84), as well as working with the Indoor 4x400m Relay Squad, which would bring home Northwood’s first GLIAC Championship in that event since the 1990s. It was due in part to these efforts that she was able to help her fellow coaches earn GLIAC Coaching Staff of the Year for 2022 in Indoor Men’s Track and Field. During the outdoor season, Xzavia Price would top the podium again in the 100m Dash, earning the unofficial title of the fastest man in the conference and running a lifetime best of 10.83 in the prelims. Behind the scenes in her first year, she worked to build up a strong Sprints and Hurdles recruiting class (a total of 17 incomers) for the Timberwolves’ first year in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.

 Johnson arrived at Northwood in the Fall of 2021 with a strong background in the sport of Track and Field. From 2014-19 she competed collegiately for fellow DII institution, Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan. During this time she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Education, as well as found success as a quarter-miler and a hurdler for the DII Lakers. Her own accomplishments in Track and Field include helping the women add to their now over 20-year streak of Indoor and Outdoor Team Conference titles, being a part of multiple First Team All-American efforts on the 4x400 and Distance Medley Relays at the National level, as well as earning individual All-American Honors in the 400 Meter Hurdles in 2018. In the same 2018 National Meet, she also set the university's 400H record with a time of 59.38. Heather left GVSU with a legacy off the track as well, earning their annual Mike Lints “Blood, Sweat, and Tears” Award; An honor decided on by both student-athletes and coaches and given to the individual who was most valuable to the team atmosphere.

 Following her time at GVSU, Heather joined the Track and Field staff at Northern Arizona University (NCAA DI) from 2019-2021 as their Graduate Assistant. While completing her Master’s Degree in Higher Education, she helped coach both the NAU men’s and women’s squads to exciting Big Sky Conference victories in the Indoor and Outdoor seasons that bookended the COVID pandemic. Working the first two seasons of her coaching career in such a time of uncertainty proved a great challenge, but helped her shape her philosophy for coaching around overcoming adversity, the importance of a great support system, and advocating for student-athlete mental health.

 Heather has enjoyed being back in her home state of Michigan to pursue her passion for Track and Field with the Timberwolves. When she is not working with her athletes, she can be found working out herself, planning her next road trip, or spending time with her family and friends in the area.