Johnson enjoying role as women's tennis assistant coach at PLNU

Hailey Johnson is enjoying her role as the women's tennis assistant coach at Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU).

"It's been a really great experience, and I have learned so much about myself as a player and as a coach," said Johnson.

Curt Wheeler is the head coach for both the PLNU men and the Sea Lions women. Wheeler has both a men's assistant coach and a women's assistant coach. David Jaehnig is the men's assistant coach. Johnson became the women's assistant coach in 2016.

"It was really exciting because it was a really good transition from competing myself," Johnson said.

Johnson graduated from Oasis High School in 2011 and played for the Fallbrook High School tennis team under the CIF's Multi-School Teams Status policy which allows students attending certain schools to compete for specified other teams.

Johnson, who was raised in Bonsall, attended Zion Lutheran School through eighth grade and was enrolled at Fallbrook High School for 2 1/2 years before transferring to Oasis in the middle of her junior year so that she could take advantage of the school district's independent study program. Tennis was the only sport Johnson played in high school.

Johnson initially played collegiate tennis for the University of Arizona but transferred to San Diego State University in the middle of her sophomore year. She graduated from San Diego State in January 2016 with a sustainability major and has a full-time job in a merchandising capacity for the True Organic line of Grimmway Farms in addition to her part-time position as the PLNU assistant tennis coach.

Johnson and David Cerrones will be married Dec. 31. Cerrones is an athletic trainer at PLNU and informed Johnson of the assistant coach position.

"When I heard that they were looking for an assistant coach I immediately reached out to the head coach," Johnson said.

Johnson's sister, Michaela Johnson, played tennis at Point Loma after graduating from Fallbrook High School in 2010.

"I've got a pretty good connection, and I knew that I enjoyed the environment (at PLNU)," said Hailey Johnson.

Michaela Johnson graduated from PLNU in 2015 with an athletic training degree and is now pursuing a master's degree at Concordia University in Irvine.

The Johnson sisters played as a doubles team in the 2009 CIF tournament and reached the championship match before their Poway counterparts won the final for the CIF championship. Hailey Johnson played singles in the 2010 CIF tournament and reached the semifinals before losing to eventual CIF champion Karen Forman of Torrey Pines.

Hailey Johnson won the 2010 Avocado East League singles championship. Hailey Johnson was the Avocado League singles champion in 2007 as a freshman, and that year she reached the CIF quarterfinals.

Dave Ramirez coached Hailey Johnson for all four of her Fallbrook High School seasons and also coached her at the Fallbrook Tennis Club prior to Johnson's high school years.

"I will forever owe him for all the hard times I gave him on the court," said Hailey Johnson.

Hailey Johnson, who is now 24, was seven when she began playing tennis. Gerald Kahle, who at that time was a pro at the Fallbrook Tennis Club, had a Spring Break program, and Johnson participated in the program and became interested in the sport. Kahle later moved to the San Luis Rey Downs Tennis Club, and the Johnson family joined Kahle in the move to the Bonsall facility. Kahle now lives in Louisiana, and Johnson has remained in contact with him.

Hailey Johnson competed in her first tournament when she was seven. She was eight when she won her first tournament championship.

After Hailey Johnson completed her fourth athletic season in 2015, she continued to work out with the San Diego State team although she did not help coach the Aztecs. "I was definitely still connected with the girls and the coaching staff," she said.

Peter Mattera is San Diego State's head coach. Hailey Johnson remains in contact with Mattera and the Aztecs' program.

"They're unforgettable," said Hailey Johnson. "I had never thought that I would get to be a part of a program like that."

Hailey Johnson noted the role of the Aztecs team when she transferred from Arizona. "That's never an easy process for anyone. They really helped me get through it. I will be forever thankful for that."

Hailey Johnson's favorite college tennis memory, however, is from her time with Arizona. "A big one for me in college was the finals of the Ojai tournament," she said.

The Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament includes a PAC-12 division, and in her final Arizona season Hailey Johnson and Sarah Landsman reached the doubles championship match. "We had such a great tournament together," Johnson said.

Point Loma is in the Pacific West Conference. "We are having a really good season so far," Hailey Johnson said.

The conference tournament, which runs through April 22, is being played at the Surprise Tennis Club in Surprise, Arizona. "I've actually played a lot of tournaments there," Hailey Johnson said. "It's a really good center for a lot of different competition."

Hailey Johnson noted that she coaches young women who are hoping to improve their performances. "It's been really fun and challenging, but it's also never boring," she said.

Although Hailey Johnson now lives in the City of San Diego, her parents and grandparents still live in Bonsall. "I always love coming back, coming to Fallbrook and seeing all the new things happening," she said.