Greensboro College

Greensboro College Athletics
815 W. Market Street Greensboro, NC 27401

Division 3 North Carolina Southeast

Private Small National competitor

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Coaches

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Mike Johnston

Mike Johnston enters his second season as head coach of the Pride in 2023. During his first year at the helm, he led the Pride to the USA South Athletic Conference semifinals. Greensboro College appointed Johnston as Head Women's Soccer Coach in the spring of 2022 after serving as an assistant for the Pride the previous 3 seasons. Johnston helped lead the Pride to a USA South East division championship in the Spring of 2021, and during his tenure as an assistant with the Pride, Johnston focused on leadership and culture training within the team. In addition to his women's soccer coaching role, Johnston is the Head Sports Performance Specialist for Greensboro College Athletics and serves as an adjunct professor in the Department of Kinesiology.

Johnston brings extensive experience to his position at Greensboro College, and has coached at the collegiate, high school, club, and Olympic development levels throughout his illustrious coaching career. Prior to joining the Pride staff, Johnston spent 14 years at the American Hebrew Academy, a private preparatory boarding school where he chaired the school's Wellness Department, served as associate athletics director, and coached the boys' and girls' soccer teams in addition to the boys' basketball team. In both 2017 and 2018, he was named the 1A private school state coach of the year for girls' soccer by the North Carolina Soccer Coaches Association. In addition, he was named 1A private regional coach of the year by the NCSCA for girls' soccer in successive years from 2017-2019 and was named boys regional coach of the year in 2017. Under Johnston's guidance numerous athletes earned all-state, all-region, all-conference, and all-area distinction, and several of his athletes have gone on to excel in the collegiate and professional ranks. Johnston has also enjoyed successful coaching stints at Caldwell Academy, Greensboro Day School, Guilford College and with the Greensboro Youth Soccer Association.

"Mike has been a genuine difference maker as a coach and mentor everywhere he has been. His multiple talents and experiences give him tremendous credibility with his peers and student-athletes and we are confident that our women's soccer program will flourish under his leadership," said Director of Athletics Kim Strable.

Also an experienced educator, Johnston served as department chair of Sports Medicine and Wellness at the Middle College at UNC-Greensboro from 2019-2022, and also served as chair of the institution's leadership team. Johnston worked previously as an instructor both at the American Hebrew Academy and UNC-Greensboro, teaching classes in the realm of Sports Medicine, Exercise Science, and Kinesiology. Johnston holds a Master of Science degree in Sports Medicine and Kinesiology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and earned both his Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sports Science and Minor in Sport Coaching from UNCG as well. Johnston also holds both National and Advanced National coaching diplomas from United Soccer Coaches (formerly the National Soccer Coaches Association of America), is a certified USA Weightlifting coach, and is a sports performance specialist. In addition to his coaching roles, Johnston trains elite athletes throughout the year and has a vested interest in sport performance and development of athletes.

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Jenna Jordan

Jenna Jordan joins the Pride in the Fall of 2023 as an assistant coach and will help the team in training, recruiting, and in day-to-day operations. Jordan starred collegiately at Muskingum University in New Concord, Ohio, where she was a 4-year starter and 2-year captain and was named Academic All-OAC in successive years from 2020-2022. Jordan holds a Bachelor of Science degree, as well as minors in both Chemistry and Psychology from Muskingum and graduated Summa Cum Laude. Jordan is currently pursuing a master's degree in biology at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

"I'm beyond thrilled to have Jenna join our staff", noted Head Coach Mike Johnston. "Jenna will be a fantastic coach, role model, and steadfast leader for our group. She is extremely passionate about coaching as well as education and there is no question, she will have an immediate impact on our team".

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Jake Papier

Jake Papier enters his second year as an assistant for the Pride in 2023, and will help the team not only in training, but in analytics as well as recovery and regeneration. “Jake has been a tremendous resource for our players both on and off the field. He brings a multifaceted skillset that will help our group continue to grow on a daily basis”, stated Head Coach Mike Johnston. “Jake is a proven leader, coach, as well as educator and the impact he has had on our group has been fantastic”.

Papier is currently pursuing a master's degree in neurmechanics in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. In addition to his graduate studies, Papier also works as a stretch practioner at Stretch Zone in Greensboro and is well-versed in specific stretching programs and muscular imbalance correction techniques. Papier holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and graduated Magna Cum Laude. Papier has an extensive coaching resume and has enjoyed successful soccer coaching stints at the American Hebrew Academy, Piedmont Classical High School, as well as Caldwell Academy. In addition, Papier serves as a varsity girls’ basketball assistant coach at Caldwell Academy.

Athletically, Papier starred locally at the American Hebrew Academy where he was a 3-sport all-conference athlete in soccer, basketball and track and field in addition to serving as team captain in all 3 sports.