University of Denver women’s basketball head coach Erik Johnson has accepted the women’s basketball head coaching position at Boston College, DU Vice Chancellor for Athletics and Recreation and Ritchie Center Operations Peg Bradley-Doppes announced today. The Pioneers will begin a national search for a new coach immediately.
“We appreciate all of the hard work and dedication that Erik has put into building a strong foundation for our women’s basketball team,” Bradley-Doppes said. “All of us at the University of Denver will always consider Erik, Laura, Daly, Avery and Davis Johnson part of the DU family. This is a tremendous opportunity for Erik, and we wish the entire Johnson family the best.”
In four seasons at Denver, Johnson led the Pioneers to a 72–52 record, including consecutive 19-win seasons the past two years and a WNIT berth in 2011. Johnson compiled a 44–23 mark in the Sun Belt Conference, and the team finished in the top three in the SBC in each of Johnson’s four seasons.
“There’s no way that I would have an opportunity like this without all the hard work and dedication from everyone at DU,” Johnson said. “Our players, my staff and our administration all the way up to the Board of Trustees and Chancellor Coombe have done everything in their power to give me and our program the best opportunity for success. I believe strongly in this place and this team, and I have loved every minute of coaching at the University of Denver. I have no doubt that this team and all of DU will continue to do great things and make all of us Pioneers proud.”
Johnson was introduced as DU’s head coach prior to the 2008–09 season, following a three-year stint as an assistant coach at Boston College, where he helped lead the Eagles to the Sweet 16 of the 2006 NCAA Tournament.