Michelle Johnston enters her 12th season at the helm of the Binghamton program in 2021. In her first decade, she has become Binghamton's all-time winningest head coach.
Under Johnston's guidance, the Bearcats have won 240 games and have gone 109-73 in the America East Conference. In 2015, Binghamton won its first-ever America East championships and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The following two seasons (2016 & 2017), the Bearcats captured the conference's regular-season titles.
Since Johnston became the program’s head coach, the Bearcats have averaged 24 wins per full season, including a 34-win performance in 2016 and a 30-win effort in 2013. In the previous eight seasons before Johnston was named the head coach -- all at the NCAA Division I level -- Binghamton averaged just 13 wins per year.
Under Johnston's leadership, Binghamton has posted the America East Player of the Year twice (2011 and 2014), the America East Rookie of the Year three times (2010, 2013 and 2015) as well as 10 NFCA All-Region selections and 10 ECAC All-Star picks. In addition, the Bearcats have had a total of 47 all-conference selections and 23 all-rookie picks during that span. Furthermore, Johnston was a part of the America East Coaching Staff of the Year in both 2013 and 2016.
With Johnston at the helm, Binghamton has been one of the top offensive teams among all NCAA Division I programs. In 2016, the Bearcats were third in the nation in batting (.348) and ninth in scoring (7.08). In addition, Binghamton was second in the nation in stolen bases in 2014 (2.55), second in triples per game in 2017 (0.43), No. 27 in home runs per game in 2010 (1.06) and No. 34 in 2013 (1.00) as well as No. 37 in scoring in 2013 (5.47). Three times in the past six seasons, the Bearcats have posted the top team batting average in the America East.
In the classroom, Binghamton has been just as impressive. In 2010, the Bearcats recorded a 3.45 overall team GPA, which ranked first in the America East Conference and eighth in the nation among NCAA Division I programs. The following year, the squad also ranked first in the America East Conference with a 3.36 team GPA.
Individually, Binghamton has posted 75 NFCA Scholar Athlete selections as well as 22 America East Academic Squad selections the past nine years. One player was also named to the 2011 COSIDA All-District Team and another was named the 2013 America East Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Johnston arrived in Binghamton after a successful stint with the University of Rochester. She posted a four-year record of 117-50 (.701) and guided the Yellowjackets to three consecutive NCAA appearances (2007, 2008, 2009). During that span, the Yellowjackets went 24-0 in conference play and racked up three consecutive Liberty League championships. In the process, Rochester increased their win total each season, breaking the school record for victories every year.
During her tenure at Rochester, Johnston also helped lay claim to a number of first-ever milestones for the Yellowjacket program, including the first-ever national ranking, first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance and also coached the program’s first-ever All-American. Johnston and her assistant coach Margaret Yerdon (a 2002 Binghamton graduate) earned the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year honors in 2007 and 2009.
While at Rochester, Johnston also instilled a culture of academic success into her student-athletes. From 2006-09, her team increased their GPA each year, with the high-water mark being 3.33 during the 2008-09 academic year.
In 2002, Johnston started her coaching career as an assistant coach at her alma mater, the University of Maryland. She was the program’s top assistant and recruiting coordinator by the time she accepted the head coaching position at Rochester four years later. The Terps went 88-66 during Burrell’s four years on the staff.
At Maryland, Johnston was a four-year starting outfielder for the Terrapin softball program and started 239 career games. She earned first team All-ACC honors and was named to the conference’s all-tournament team as a senior. She also was a NFCA Mid-Athletic All-Region selection and a Verizon Academic All-District honoree. She is still ranked in the top ten in nearly every offensive statistical category at Maryland. In 2002, Johnston was selected a member of the 50th All-Anniversary ACC Softball team.
After graduating from Maryland with a B.S. Kinesiology in 2001, Johnston worked in the athletic department as an administrative assistant and career development assistant. Additionally, she interned with the strength and conditioning program for one year.
A native of nearby Owego, Johnston is a 1997 graduate of Owego Free Academy. She and her husband Dan reside in her hometown.
BINGHAMTON UNDER MICHELLE JOHNSTON
2015 America East Champions
2016 & 2017 America East Regular-Season Champions
2015 NCAA Division I Tournament Appearance
10 NFCA All-Region Selections
10 ECAC All-Star Selections
2011 & 2014 America East Player of the Year
2010, 2013 & 2015 America East Rookie of the Year
47 America East All-Conference Selections
23 America East All-Rookie Selections
75 NFCA Scholar Athletes
22 America East All-Academic Selections
One COSIDA Academic All-District Selection
One SUNY Chancellor’s Award Winner for Student Excellence
2013 America East Softball Scholar-Athlete
Binghamton posted the top softball team GPA in the America East Conference in 2010 and 2011
THE JOHNSTON FILE
Head Coach, Binghamton University (2010-present): 179-149 overall
Head Coach, University of Rochester (2006-09): 147-67 overall
Assistant Coach, University of Maryland (2002-05)
COACHING HONORS
Led the 2013 & 2016 America East Coaching Staff of the year
Led the 2007 and 2009 Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year
PLAYING HONORS
A member of the 50th All-Anniversary ACC Softball Team
A 2001 NFCA All-Region selection
A 2001 COSIDA All-Academic Team selection
