KEARNEY, NE — A longtime Kearney educator and former college golfer is the next girls golf coach at Kearney High.

Athletic Director Ryan Hogue announced Thursday that Carrie Johnson is taking over for JD Carson, who is now the girls basketball coach. Johnson was a state tournament varsity golfer for four years at Wahoo High School, earned four letters golfing at Hastings College and competed in the NAIA national tournament.

“I am excited to bring my passion and love for golf to the next generation of girls’ golfers,” Johnson said in a news release. “Competitive golf has been such an important part of my life… providing me with some of my fondest memories. I hope that I can offer the same kind of experience to our future Bearcat golf teams at KHS while upholding the strong tradition of Kearney High Golf.” 

Johnson is a third grade teacher at Windy Hills Elementary and has taught for Kearney Public Schools for 20 years. Before Windy Hills, she taught special education, fourth grade and fifth grade at Emerson Elementary. She also has experience teaching in Omaha and Hastings.

“Carrie brings a tremendous amount of playing experience, commitment, and passion for the game of golf to the Kearney High School Girls Golf program," Hogue said. “Her successful playing experience at both the high school and college levels, as well as her local connections to the golfing community, will help her establish an immediate rapport with her players and our local courses that we rely on to develop our players.”