Adam Johnson (born January 31, 1965) is an American former professional beach volleyball player. In total, he won 44 beach volleyball tournaments, and won about $1,700,000 in prizes in his career.[1][2] 16 of his tournament wins were with volleyball legend Karch Kiraly as his partner.[1]
| Adam Johnson | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Nickname | A.J. | ||
| Born | January 31, 1965 (age 59) | ||
| Hometown | Laguna Beach, California, U.S. | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | ||
| College / University | University of Southern California | ||
| Volleyball information | |||
| Position | Outside hitter | ||
| Number | 9 (USC) | ||
| National team | |||
| |||
High school
editJohnson played volleyball, soccer, and football at Laguna Beach High School in Laguna Beach, California.[3] As a punter, he averaged 42.7 yards per punt.[3]
College
editJohnson played college volleyball for the University of Southern California (USC).[3][1] He was a three-time All-American while playing for the Trojans.[1] In 1986, he was selected as the NCAA Player of the Year by Volleyball Monthly.[4][3] He graduated in 1987 with a degree in communication.[1] In 2012, his number 9 jersey was retired by USC.[5]
National team
editAfter college, Johnson briefly played as an outside hitter for the United States national volleyball team, but was unable to compete in the 1988 Summer Olympics due to an ankle injury just before the tournament.[3][6]
Beach volleyball
editAs a beach volleyball player, Johnson became one of the biggest stars in the AVP in the 1990s.[3][2] In 1991, he was selected as the Most Improved Player in the AVP.[1] In 1994, he won the prestigious Manhattan Beach Open with partner Randy Stoklos, earning him the "King of the Beach" title.[7][8][9] He was selected as the Best Defensive Player of the AVP in 1993 and 1997.[1] In 1998, with partner Kiraly, Johnson was the top-seeded player in the AVP.[10] In 1999, with partner Kiraly, Johnson again achieved the top-seeded ranking in the AVP, and helped Kiraly establish a record for most tournament wins.[11] He retired in 2000, and then briefly made a comeback in 2005.[12]
Hall of Fame
editIn 2012, Johnson was inducted into the California Beach Volleyball Association (CBVA) Beach Volleyball Hall of Fame.[7] In 2024, he was inducted into the Southern California Indoor Volleyball Hall of Fame.[5]
Coaching
editSince retiring, Johnson has offered volleyball instruction through the Adam Johnson Volleyball Academy.[13][2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g "Adam Johnson". Beach Volleyball Database. Archived from the original on May 27, 2024. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
- ^ a b c Hadorn, Christopher (June 27, 2020). "Ex-AVP star shares wisdom with local volleyball players". Midland Reporter-Telegram. Archived from the original on August 29, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f Reilley, Mike (August 11, 1992). "For Now, Johnson Is Getting His Kicks on the Beach : Volleyball: Former Laguna Beach High standout is one of beach tour's top players and has pondered trying out with an NFL team as a punter". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 28, 2023. (subscription required)
- ^ Falkner, David (November 15, 1986). "Players; U.S.C. Star Rockets Toward Olympics". The New York Times. sec. 1 p. 17. Retrieved August 28, 2023. (subscription required)
- ^ a b "Adam Johnson, 2024". Southern California Indoor Volleyball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
- ^ Reilley, Mike (October 24, 1989). "Opportunity Knocks a Second Time : Volleyball: Adam Johnson, who missed the 1988 Games because of an ankle injury, is pursuing his Olympic dream again". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 10, 2023. (subscription required)
- ^ a b "Adam Johnson". CBVA Beach Volleyball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on August 11, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ Garcia, Irene (July 4, 1994). "Beach Volleyball : After Four Years, Stoklos Wins at Manhattan Beach". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 12, 2023. (subscription required)
- ^ "Randy Stoklos". International Volleyball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ Neff, Melanie (July 12, 1998). "For Top Two Teams, Some Tough Times". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 14, 2023. (subscription required)
- ^ "Karch Makes Volleyball History". CBS News. Associated Press. July 5, 1999. Archived from the original on August 2, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
- ^ Mewhirter, Travis (May 16, 2018). "Sandcast: Adam Johnson, the hall of famer hiding in plain sight". Volleyball Magazine. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "Series of volleyball clinics will begin on Jan. 16". Daily Pilot. January 6, 2006. Retrieved August 12, 2023. (subscription required)