PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State Athletics Senior Associate Athletic Director John Johnson's 15-year tenure in Pullman came to an end earlier this month as he and his family are moving to Lincoln, Neb., where wife Lisa was recently named the Head Women's Golf Coach at the University of Nebraska and he has accepted a position as Senior Deputy Athletic Director­—Chief of Staff under former Cougar Athletic Director Bill Moos.
 
"John has been an invaluable member of our senior athletics staff and he will be greatly missed," said WSU Director of Athletics Pat Chun. "He filled a number of roles while here, most notablably his relationships with staff, donors and fans. We wish he and his family nothing but the best and thank him for his contributions to Cougar Athletics over the years."
 
Johnson has been a long-time administrator at Washington State, beginning in 2004 when he arrived as the senior associate athletic director. He served under three athletic directors, Jim Sterk (2004-10), Bill Moos (2010-17) and Chun (2018-19). He also served as interim athletic director between Moos and Chun.
 
During his time in Pullman, Johnson had oversight for a number of areas at one time or another, including WSU's athletic foundation, now known as the Cougar Athletic Fund, as well as external operations, including sponsorships, marketing, ticket sales, radio and television revenues and communications.
 
He played a major role in fundraising and management of multiple facility projects, including the multiple renovations of Martin Stadium, including the construction of the Cougar Football Complex operations building. Additional projects included the baseball indoor hitting and pitching facility, the Simmelink Indoor Tennis Courts renovation, the Tom and Barbara Wilson Indoor Rowing facility, Lower Soccer Field, the Moobery Track and Field Complex and the indoor hitting facility for men's and women's golf.
 
Most recently, Johnson focused on strategic planning and increased facility development. He oversaw the development of the Athletic Department's facilities master plan through a comprehensive analysis of sports, department and university goals, and strategic initiatives.  He also provided a broad range of senior administrative leadership, management, oversight and coordination for all activities at athletic events, facility operation and postseason competition, as well as sport supervision.