Melissa Johnson Named Earlham Women's Basketball Coach

Release courtesy of Earlham College

RICHMOND, IN— Former Earlham College women's basketball player Melissa (Liffick) Johnson is coming home.

Johnson, a 2003 graduate of Earlham, was named the head women's basketball coach on Monday.

"It's great to get a chance to come back to the Earlham community," Johnson said. "To have the opportunity to be the head coach at my alma mater is an absolute dream."

"I feel like the timing is just right for me," Johnson added. "When this position opened, I felt a nudge that it was time to pursue this opportunity."

Earlham Director of Athletics Frank Carr made the announcement after a national search that had over 125 applicants.

"We're excited," Carr said. "The combination of Melissa's success in recruiting and coaching at Earlham along with a passion and intense work ethic for the women's basketball program made her rise to the top of the list of candidates."

Johnson spent eight years as a part of Earlham women's basketball as a player from 1999-2003 and then as an assistant coach for four seasons.

"Her leadership and athletic ability as a player was a key to one of the most success periods for women's basketball at Earlham," Carr said.

During Johnson's playing days she served as team captain for three seasons. She was a two-time Earlham Defensive Player of the Year and helped the Quakers reach the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament championship game in 2001. 

The Whiteland, Ind., native received the George Van Dyke Outstanding Athlete Award and the Kathryn Weber Scholar-Athlete Award as a senior.

Johnson officially begins her duties on July 1.

"I'm going to meet with the team before they leave campus," Johnson said. "Then it will be time to hit the recruiting trail very hard and start building this program. There is a solid group of returning players, who are very hungry for success. When I met with them during my interview, they were very adamant about wanting to turn things around."

In addition to her bachelor's degree in biology from Earlham, Johnson graduated from the College's Master of Arts in Teaching program in 2007.

A science teacher in the Winchester Community School system, Johnson lives in Richmond with her husband Nick. Nick is Earlham's head track coach and football defensive coordinator. They have two children, daughter Jayden and son Jacob.