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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Nicole Ohlde-Johnson

  • Title
    Head Women's Basketball Assistant Coach
  • Email
    johnsonn7@unk.edu
  • Phone
    (308) 865-8030
Nicole Ohlde-Johnson is in her first year as the head assistant coach for Nebraska-Kearney women’s basketball.

The former Kansas State and WNBA star has worked alongside her husband, Drew Johnson, the past decade in leading programs at MIAA-member Newman University (2021-23), NAIA Bethel College (2017-21) and starting the Ohlde Elite and Ohlde Academy programs. UNK WBB

The Bethel Threshers  was 4-23 (2-20 KCAC) the year prior to the Johnson's arrival. They promptly tripled the win total in year one and then set a new program record for victories (20) in year two. The following winter, Bethel set several school records en route to hosting its first KCAC Tournament game in eight years. Finally, the Threshers won 16 games in 2020-21 and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament for the first time. 
 
At Newman, the Jets beat Central Oklahoma in the 2023 regular season finale to reach the MIAA Tournament for the first time in program history. NU also had a seven-win improvement from the year before, with Britney Ho earning third-team All-MIAA honors and reaching 1,000 career points. 

The Ohlde Elite and Academy programs sent a numbers of players into the collegiate ranks including former Loper standout Elisa BackesPHOENIX - OCTOBER 9: Nicole Ohlde #30 of the Phoenix Mercury poses with the WNBA Championship Trophy after defeating the Indiana Fever 94-86 in Game Five of the WNBA Finals at U.S. Airways Center on October 9, 2009 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) .

A 6-5 post, Ohlde-Johnson played in the WNBA between 2004-19 with the Minnesota Lynx, Phoenix Mercury and Tulsa Shock. The first-round pick of the Lynx won a title with the Mercury in 2009 and had WNBA career averages of 8.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game while shooting 76% at the line. She also had a lengthy overseas career.

At K-State, Ohlde-Johnson was a two-time Kodak, Associated Press and U.S. Basketball Writers Association All-American. The 2001 Big XII Freshman of the Year went on to be the league’s Player of the Year in both 2003 and 2004. Finally, she was a three-time first-team all-league selection.

Ohlde-Johnson left as the Wildcats all-time leader in points (2,161), rebounds (970) and blocks (201) and was part of three NCAA Tournament squads. That included the 2002 team that reached the Sweet 16 for the third time in program history and the 2004 unit that won a Big XII regular season title.

A two-time gold medalist as a member of the USA Basketball World Championships for Young Women’s team, Ohlde-Johnson was a Social Science major at K-State who earned Big XII Academic first-team honors three times.

The Johnson's have two sons, Dax and Cooper.