May 8, 2025
Magnolia School District Welcomes Accomplished Collegiate Coach Deidra Johnson as Head Varsity Girls Basketball Coach
MAGNOLIA, Ark. — The Magnolia School District is proud to announce the hiring of Deidra Johnson, a highly respected collegiate basketball coach who will join the district’s athletic leadership team as the varsity girls’ basketball coach.
With over 15 years of coaching experience across NCAA Division I, junior college, and community college programs, Johnson brings a wealth of knowledge, success, and passion back to her hometown. She most recently served as an assistant coach with the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) women’s basketball program, where she completed a historic 2024–25 season marked by significant achievements and national recognition.
During her recent tenure at UNI, Coach Johnson played a key role in helping the Panthers:
Defeat No. 8 Iowa State for the program’s first-ever top-10 victory
Set a new scoring record with 2,519 points in a single season
Achieve a No. 6 ranking in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Poll
Overcome a 20-point deficit in the largest comeback win of the coaching era
She also mentored standout athletes, including Ryley Goebel, one of only 19 players in NCAA history with 70+ steals and 70+ blocks in a season and Elise Jaeger, named to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman Team.
Johnson’s coaching journey includes key roles at Indiana State, Arkansas State, Texas State, UTSA, Marshall University, Chipola College, and Blinn College. She has coached numerous all-conference athletes, helped programs set records, and consistently prioritized academic and athletic development.
UNI Head Coach Tanya Warren praised Johnson as “High-energy, relentless, extremely knowledgeable, and a tremendous teacher of the game.”
A graduate of Oklahoma State University and former standout at Westark Community College, Coach Johnson began her athletic journey in Magnolia. She was a two-time letter winner at OSU, an All-NJCAA Region VI selection, and earned multiple academic honors, including placement on the National Dean’s List.
Please join us in welcoming Coach Deidra Johnson to Magnolia. We are excited for the leadership and excellence she brings to our school community.