Former Fairfield assistant and Boston College head coach
Erik Johnson was hired to begin his second stint in charge of the Denver women’s basketball program on April 20, 2026. Johnson first coached the Pioneer from 2008-12, going 72-52 in his first four seasons in charge in the Mile High City.
Prior to retaking the Denver job, Johnson was an assistant at Fairfield, helping the Stags to a record of 102-27, while winning three MAAC Championships and making three NCAA Tournament appearances. The Stags received votes in the national rankings in three-consecutive seasons and cracked the top-25 in two of those three campaigns.
In his first stint at Denver, Johnson took over a team that went 11-19 prior to his arrival, and turned in four-consecutive seasons at .500 or above, the longest streak in Denver’s modern DI era. The Pioneers made their first WNIT appearance, and just their second DI postseason appearance overall in 2011, and reached at least 18 wins in each of Johnson’s last three years on the DU campus.
Johnson’s Pioneers finished second in the western division of the Sun Belt Conference in each of his four years in charge, going a combined 44-24 in conference play. In his final two seasons at Denver, the Pioneers protected their home court, recording a 24-4 record on the DU campus. Johnson earned four wins over what was then teams from BCS conferences, getting victories against Minnesota, Oregon, Colorado and Vanderbilt. Johnson’s final recruiting class in Denver was ranked 16
th nationally among mid-major schools by ESPN. Johnson’s teams earned accolades for their academic performance as well, ranking 25
th in the WBCA Academic Top-25 in the WNIT campaign of 2010-11.
After beating No. 19 Vanderbilt for the first top-25 win in program history during his first stint with the Pioneers, Johnson picked up his first win over a ranked opponent at Boston College in January 2015. The Eagles hit more three-pointers than any team in the ACC that season, knocking down 250 to rank 11
th nationally in three-pointers made per game (8.3) and 29
th in three-point field goal percentage (35.9).
Prior to taking the Denver head coaching job the first time, Johnson was an assistant at Boston College, helping the program to the 2006 NCAA Sweet 16.
Johnson has held additional roles as the WBCA Conference Captain for both the Sun Belt Conference (Denver) and the ACC (Boston College).
In between his time as a head coach at Boston College and rejoining the college ranks as an assistant at Fairfield, Johnson worked with the Positive Coaching Alliance, delivering workshops and performing speaking engagements for coaches, student-athletes, parents and administrators.
Johnson earned his degree in psychology from UC San Diego in 1994 and earned a master’s degree in Adult Education from Rhode Island in 1997. His wife Laura was a former volleyball player at Ohio State and was an alternate for the 2000 Olympic Team. The Johnsons have two daughters, Daly and Avery.
The couple’s son Davis tragically passed away at the age of four in May of 2010. The Johnson family is thrilled to be back at DU, a place that Davis loved, and his memory is cherished.
Johnson’s Coaching Career
2022-26 – Fairfield – Assistant Coach
2012-18 – Boston College – Head Coach
2008-12 – Denver – Head Coach
2005-08 – Boston College – Assistant Coach
2002-05 – San Diego – Associate Head Coach
1998-02 – San Diego – Assistant Coach
1995-98 – Rhode Island – Assistant Coach
