Ma-Kayla “MJayee” Johnson serves as the Head Women’s Volleyball Coach at LeMoyne-Owen College. Originally from San Antonio, TX, Johnson brings energy, passion and a strong commitment to student athlete development both on and off the court.
Johnson earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Dillard University in 2020. She later continued her education at Union University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing in 2024. Her educational journey reflects her passion for service, leadership, and personal growth.
Her coaching career began at just 18 years old with the San Antonio Cobras before continuing through the club volleyball ranks in Texas and Memphis. Johnson coached for organizations such as TAV Houston, HVA Houston and Texas Regulators while working with athletes from ages 14 through 18. She also provided private training for collegiate players during school breaks.
After moving to Memphis to pursue nursing school, Johnson continued building her coaching résumé through club volleyball and later became the Head Coach at Germantown High School. While leading the varsity, junior varsity and freshman programs, she helped guide the team to one of its strongest seasons in over a decade. The program finished with a 10–7 overall record and earned its first victory over White Station High School in six years.
As an HBCU graduate, Johnson believes coaching at an HBCU carries a deeper purpose. She views the opportunity as a way to give back to a system that helped shape her own life. She is passionate about helping student athletes grow in confidence and resiliency while showing them the opportunities that exist beyond graduation.
Johnson’s coaching philosophy centers around what she describes as a “dog mentality". She values toughness, grit, competitiveness and the willingness to improve every day. She believes many athletes already possess the tools needed for success and simply need someone who believes in them enough to help bring out their full potential.
Away from volleyball, Johnson serves as a full time registered nurse at a Level 1 trauma center in Memphis, where she works in emergency medicine and intensive care. Guided by the motto “Exposure leads to expansion,” Johnson hopes to build a volleyball program that student athletes are proud to represent while leaving a lasting impact on every player who comes through the program.
