Joan Johnson

Varsity Head Coach

Girls Varsity Field Hockey

A 1983 graduate of Chesapeake High School, Joan (Downey) Johnson was Chesapeake High School's first female Blue Chip Athlete earning an athletic scholarship to the University of North Dakota.  Johnson was AA County All County Goalie her Junior and Senior years and All Metro Honorable Mention.  Selected numerous times as the AA County Arundel Sun Goalie of the Week she also Captained the team in her Jr. and Sr. years.  She led her team in 1981 and 1982 to the State Semi-Finals.  Johnson went on to play field hockey at Division !! University of North Dakota and in her Sophomore year - the team finished 6th in the Division II Nationals.  Upon returning to Maryland, she took over the helm of Old Mill High School's field hockey program for 2 season in 1988 and 1989 - helping the school have it's first winning season ever in field hockey and earning the Capital-Gazette 1989 Field Hockey Coach the Year honors.  In a short time off to have 3 children, Courtney, Caitlyn and John, Joan began helping with rec league and continues coaching rec league today.  She is co-founder of The Gaels Field Hockey Club, ranked #1 in the State of Maryland, and #12 in the Country at the U19 age bracket - out of 250 clubs.  A 2008 recipient of the Liberty Mutual's Responsible Coach of the Year Award, Johnson is also a Level II certified coach with USA Field Hockey and coaches the USAFH Futures Program.  Recently Johnson was also invited to coach at the Penn State team field hockey camp. Johnson boasts having 3 Junior Olympians who she coached this year at several club events including Disney's Showcase where the brought home the silver..  Johnson credits her years of success with having a passion for the game and a desire to see young ladies improve on and off the field.  She further credits her success on and off the field to her mentor and high school field hockey coach Jerry Coleius Raab who remains a lifelong friend.  Johnson is married to John Johnson, Sr. and they live in Severna Park with their 3 children.