Jaimel Johnson
{{Short description|American soccer player}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Jaimel Johnson
| image =
| fullname = Jaimel LaVonne Johnson
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|11|27}}
| birth_place = Greenville, South Carolina
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=8}}
| position = Goalkeeper
| collegeyears1 = 2005–2008
| college1 = Tennessee
| collegecaps1 = 61
| collegegoals1 = 0
| clubs1 = Chicago Red Stars
| years1 = 2009
| caps1 =
| goals1 =
| managerclubs1 = University of Iowa
| manageryears1 = 2010–2012
| managerclubs2 = University of Texas
| manageryears2 = 2012–2016
}}
Jaimel Johnson (born November 27, 1986) is a retired American soccer goalkeeper.{{Cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/204152-meet-chicago-red-star-jaimel-johnson-ready-to-serve-when-called|title=Meet Chicago Red Star Jaimel Johnson: Ready To Serve When Called|publisher=bleacherreport.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer-articles/tennessees-johnson-selected-by-boston_aid7638|title=Tennessee's Johnson selected by Boston|publisher=topdrawersoccer.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://hawkeyesports.com/news/2010/05/10/jaimel-johnson-hired-as-new-assistant-soccer-coach/|title=JAIMEL JOHNSON HIRED AS NEW ASSISTANT SOCCER COACH|date=May 10, 2010 }}{{cite web|title=WPS Red Stars Jaimel Johnson Bio|url=http://www.womensprosoccer.com/chicago/team/player-bios/johnson-jaimel|archivedate=2009-12-07|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091207201446/http://www.womensprosoccer.com/chicago/team/player-bios/johnson-jaimel|publisher=Internet Archive from Women's Pro Soccer|accessdate=January 20, 2023}} She played collegiately at University of Tennessee.{{cite web|title=University of Tennessee Jaimel Johnson Bio|url=https://utsports.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/jaimel-johnson/12558|publisher=University of Tennessee|accessdate=January 20, 2023}} She was drafted by the Boston Breakers in 2009{{cite web|title=2009 WPS DRAFT RESULTS|date=January 16, 2009|url=https://ussoccerplayers.com/2009/01/2009-wps-draft-results.html|publisher=US Soccer Players|accessdate=January 20, 2023}}{{Dead link|date=September 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} and went on to be rostered on the Chicago Red Stars. After her playing career, she went into coaching.{{cite web|title=University of Texas Jaimel Johnson Bio|url=https://texassports.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/coaches/jaimel-johnson/249|publisher=University of Texas|accessdate=January 20, 2023}}
Early life
Johnson was born in Greenville, South Carolina and grew up in Kettering, Ohio. She attended Chaminade Julienne High School. She grew up playing sports, which included dance, basketball, and soccer.{{cite web|title=Jaimel Johnson: All-American Goalkeeper Bio|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSJCCKfvvM4|publisher=Tennessee Athletics via YouTube|accessdate=February 7, 2023}}
Playing career
=High School=
Johnson was a four-year member of the varsity soccer team at Chaminade Julienne High School. She graduated with the single-season school records for shutouts and goals against average. Johnson also played for the Olympic Development Program. Johnson's club team, Ohio Elite, won four consecutive state titles. She became a goalkeeper in high school when one day the team was without one, so she was told that she should hop in goal because she was good with her hands from playing basketball.
=College=
As a sophomore in high school, she gained the interest of then Tennessee head coach, Angela Kelly, when Johnson's club team travelled to Knoxville and played against Tennessee. When she enrolled in 2005, Johnson became the first Black goalkeeper at Tennessee.
Johnson was a three-year starter at the University of Tennessee. She recorded three assists during her college career, two of which were for game winning goals. The team won the SEC Championship twice during her tenure. She was the first Tennessee soccer player to win the SEC Tournament MVP Award. She still holds the Tennessee record (as of 2022) for most saves in a season with 111 for the 2007 season. {{cite web|title= Tennessee Soccer 2022 Record Book|url=https://utsports.com/documents/2022/8/19/Soccer_Record_Book.pdf|publisher= UT Sports|accessdate=February 10, 2023}}
Her other accolades include being named an All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and being named to the All-SEC First Team.{{cite web|title=Sports Envoy Program Jaimel Johnson Bio|url=https://sportsenvoy.org/cpt_alumni/jaimel-johnson/|publisher=U.S. Department of State Sports Diplomacy|accessdate=January 22, 2023}} She was named to the Hermann Trophy watch list and was a nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award.
Johnson majored in sport management with a minor in business. She was on the SEC Academic Honor Roll all four years, and she earned SEC All-Academic Team honors her final three years.
=Club=
Johnson was drafted by the Boston Breakers in 2009.{{cite web|title=2009 WPS DRAFT RESULTS|url=https://sportsenvoy.org/cpt_alumni/jaimel-johnson/|publisher= U.S. Soccer Players|accessdate=February 7, 2023}} She went on to be rostered with the Chicago Red Stars.{{cite web|title=Red Stars Announce Opening Day Roster|date=March 25, 2009 |url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/red-stars-announce-opening-day-roster/n-3794883|publisher= Our Sports Central|accessdate=February 7, 2023}} She was nominated for the WPS' Hint Water Sportswoman of the Year Award.
Coaching career
In May 2010, Johnson was announced as an assistant coach for the University of Iowa.{{cite web|title=JAIMEL JOHNSON HIRED AS NEW ASSISTANT SOCCER COACH|date=May 10, 2010 |url=https://hawkeyesports.com/news/2010/05/10/jaimel-johnson-hired-as-new-assistant-soccer-coach/|publisher= Hawkeye Sports|accessdate=February 7, 2023}} After two seasons at Iowa, Johnson was announced as an assistant coach for the University of Texas. This reunited Johnson with her college coach, Angela Kelly. {{cite web|title=Texas Soccer adds Jaimel Johnson to the coaching staff|date=January 24, 2012 |url=https://texassports.com/news/2012/1/24/012412aaa_232|publisher= Texas Sports|accessdate=February 7, 2023}} Johnson remained with the program for four years.
Personal life
Johnson lives in Atlanta. She runs The Goal Standard, her private training academy. {{cite web|title= A Bit About Jaimel "Jay" Johnson|url=https://www.thegoalstandardtraining.com|publisher= The Goal Standard Training |accessdate=February 7, 2023}} In 2022, she served as an envoy to Benin for the U.S. Department of State with the Sports Diplomacy program.
References
{{reflist}}
Category:Soccer players from South Carolina
Category:Sportspeople from Greenville, South Carolina
Category:American women's soccer players
Category:21st-century American sportswomen
Category:Women's association football goalkeepers
Category:Tennessee Volunteers women's soccer players
Category:Boston Breakers draft picks
Category:Chicago Red Stars players
Category:American women's soccer coaches