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Men's Basketball
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach
- Email:
- basketball@liberty.edu
Derek Johnston joined Liberty's coaching staff in May of 2018 and was promoted to Associate Head Coach in April 2022. In Johnston's first two seasons at Liberty, the Flames posted a 59-11 record, earning back-to-back ASUN Regular Season and ASUN Championship titles and two NCAA Tournament berths, including the school's first-ever win in the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Round of the 32 in the 2019 NCAA Tournament. The Flames' offense has reached new heights since Johnston joined the staff, as the Flames ranked No. 1 in the nation in 2020, in fewest turnovers per game and also ranked No. 7 in the country in 2020 in offensive points per possession.
Johnston comes from the University of Alabama Huntsville where he served as an assistant coach under head coach Lennie Acuff. During his three years at UAH, Johnston helped the Chargers win two Gulf South Conference (GSC) regular season titles and a GSC tournament title. Alabama Huntsville appeared in two NCAA Division II tournaments including hosting the 2016 NCAA South Regional, the same year UAH advanced to the final.
While at UAH, Johnston led the program's recruiting efforts and was in charge of opponent scouting. A native of Lexington, Ala., Johnston was a part of a coaching staff that developed a potent offensive attack, averaging 83.7 points per game, which ranked No. 32 throughout Division II this past season.
Johnston has quickly moved up the coaching ranks over the last eight years. Prior to UAH, Johnston was an assistant coach for one of the best Division III programs in the country in Williams College. During his time in Massachusetts, Williams College advanced to the Division III Elite Eight in 2013 and the Final Four in 2014. Johnston was instrumental in recruiting at Williams College including the d3hoops.com National Rookie of the Year. From 2010-12, Johnston began his coaching career as the head coach at Lexington High School (Lexington, Ala.) Johnston revamped the program, guiding the school to its first county championship since 1995.
Johnston is married to his wife, Andee.
