GTCC volleyball coach Sabrina Johnson inducted into Appalachian State Athletic Hall of Fame

"This is such a meaningful moment for me as a first-generation college student,” said Johnson.

Guilford Technical Community College volleyball coach and associate professor Sabrina Johnson, Ed.D., has been selected to the Appalachian State University Athletic Hall of Fame.

Johnson, a two-sport athlete at Appalachian State from 1988-92, recently earned a spot in the school’s athletic hall of fame for track. However, she was recruited to play volleyball for the Mountaineers and excelled in both sports.

"This is such a meaningful moment for me as a first-generation college student,” said Johnson, who also teaches physical education classes at GTCC. "It took a while for reality to sink in. This honor represents years of determination and growth. It's so much bigger than me. My mother, a single parent, deserves so much of this recognition — every achievement I've earned stands on the foundation of her love and sacrifices. 

“Our team was my village, the heart of every memory.  I was a good athlete, but this honor represents more than athletic success — it's about the legacy of resilience, opportunity, and excellence."

Johnson was more than a good athlete. She won seven Southern Conference titles in the high jump and triple jump while competing on both the indoor and outdoor track teams. She helped lead the Mountaineers to Southern Conference team titles four consecutive years in both indoor and outdoor competitions.

Over 30 years later, she remains tied for the school record in the women’s outdoor high jump at 5 feet, 10 inches, a record she held alone until a few years ago.

She is tied for ninth all-time in women’s outdoor triple jump with a leap of 41 feet, 7 inches.

“Sabrina was a special student-athlete and individual,” said John Weaver, Johnson’s track coach at Appalachian State. “She was destined and accomplished special things.

“Sabrina was so easy to coach and motivate. She came to our program as a lark from the volleyball team but quickly showed us she was a gifted athlete and highly competitive.”

Johnson also made an impact on the volleyball court for Appalachian State, playing all four years, achieving first-team All-Southern Conference recognition and all-tournament honors in 1991. She helped lead the Mountaineers to the Southern Conference regular season championship in 1990 and garnered second-team all-conference honors that season.

Johnson was inducted into the hall of fame in an on-field ceremony at halftime at the Appalachian State/Coastal Carolina homecoming football game on October 18 along with four other App State athletes and coaches.

Hired full-time in 2006 to start GTCC’s women’s volleyball program, Johnson is the only coach to lead the Titans.