Interview with Steve Johnson Sr father of NCAA/ATP star Stevie Johnson

Coach Steve Clark PhD Show

Welcome to The Coach Steve Clark PhD Show. Thanks for joining me and I hope you can just sit back, relax and enjoy the conversation. I know this podcast will be very special to thousands of people because of the guest. This is a replay of my visit with Steve Johnson Senior, coach, father and friend of touring professional Stevie Johnson. Steve Sr. leaves an amazing legacy having touched the lives of thousands in the tennis community not only in Southern California but around the world and on the tour. He was a late comer to tennis and coaching having grown up playing baseball and basketball and attending John Wooden basketball camps. But when tennis took hold of him, his way with people and love for the sport catapulted him into being one of the most loved tennis coaches and club directors in Southern California. Steve was always a pleasure to talk with and had a sense of humor and ease about him. For context, in this podcast we talk about juniors, college and pro tennis, a few things about his son Stevie and especially with the ATP Tour ramping up again this year tune in and support Stevie. Stevie was one of the top juniors in SoCal his entire junior career. He went to USC, leading the team to 4 straight National Championships from 2009-2012. He won the individual title his junior and senior seasons. Stevie left USC as the most decorated player in college history. As a Pro, he broke into the top 100 his first year on tour. Started at around 350 when he left college. Highest ranking was 37 at the end of 2014. He is currently ranked 48. But what I know those around Stevie and his family would say is that Stevie’s friendliness and genuineness resembles his dad. They had a tremendous bond and it is something any parent-coach/child-player would love to emulate. That relational aspect and the people he touched is a huge legacy that Steve Sr. leaves. Please see coachsteveclarkphd.com for more of my discussion, resources, blogs and podcasts.