Tennis
- Title:
- Volunteer Assistant Coach
Richard Johnson enters his second season at Colorado as a volunteer assistant coach for the women's tennis program. Johnson is also in his second year as a CU law student.
"I am really excited to work with Richard and have him join our program," head coach Nicole Kenneally said. "I know that CU was a school he considered for his college experience and he is a proud Coloradan. He has had tremendous success at all levels of his tennis career and those experiences will be a great compliment."
Johnson was a four-year standout at Pepperdine University and was a member of their 2006 national championship team. With the Waves, he played No. 5 singles and No. 3 doubles during the Waves' national title run and was a team captain the following season. He ranks sixth on the school's all-time singles wins list (73) and was nationally ranked as high as No. 2 in singles by the USTA.
The Waves won the West Coast Conference championship all four years Johnson played there. He was named the 2007 WCC Male Student of the Year and the WCC Athletic Post-Grad Scholarship winner.
Johnson graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of science degree in biology. He was a Rhodes Scholar nominee, the 2008 Pepperdine Biology Co-Student of the Year, and was named to the dean's list four times. Johnson was also awarded the Dean's Scholarship at CU's law school.
A Grand Junction, Colo. native, Johnson also excelled during his prep career at Fruita Monument High School. He won the class 5A No. 1 singles state championship in 2002 and 2003 for the Wildcats. As a junior in the 18-and-under division, Johnson was ranked in the top-10 nationally and number one in both Colorado and the Intermountain Region.
After his collegiate career, Johnson toured internationally playing ATP and ITF professional tennis tournaments. The highest world ranking he achieved was No. 1,127 with victories over players in the top 300 in singles and doubles.
Johnson lists hiking, playing the guitar and traveling as his hobbies.
