When Ali Johnstone returned to Athens last spring, she came back to the team she helped lead to prominence eight years ago.
The former midfielder returned as an assistant coach. She starred for the Bobcats from 1998 to 2001, when she led the team to a Mid-American Championship, and its first-ever NCAA tournament birth. She was first team All-MAC every year in college, won the MAC Player of the Year in 2001 and was a two-time NFHCA All-American, being named to the first team in 2001.
Winning the MAC my senior year was definitely one of my fondest memories
Johnstone said. It was just great to be a part of something that grew so big in four years.
The extent of the program's growth during Johnstone's involvement is clear when looking at the arc of her career.
The team lost 13-0 to Boston College in her first game for Ohio. Then, during her senior year, the team went back to Boston College and defeated the Eagles 1-0.
Since leaving Ohio after college, Johnstone embarked on a field hockey journey that spanned the globe. She returned home to Vancouver to play for the Canadian National team for four years. After her time with the national team, Johnstone journeyed to Hamburg, Germany to play in the German premier league in 2005 and 2006.
Johnstone said she would not trade her time playing for Canada or Germany for anything, and that traveling around the world was a life-changing experience.
After returning from Germany, she worked as a fitness trainer and assistant coach in Canada. Her interest in training sparked the idea to run the New York Marathon, which she completed last fall.
Now that she's back at Ohio, Johnstone brings a vast amount of experience to the team. She also knows the campus and the program well, having been around the team from 1998 to 2001.
I just wanted to take it the next level as a coach which is coaching at the NCAA level Johnstone said. I actually didn't know the position at Ohio was available
so it was a pretty easy decision when I found out it was.
Coach Neil Macmillan mentioned how great it is to have Johnstone work with his players on the field, something she is able to do since she's still in great shape after working as a personal trainer.
On field
she's excellent
Macmillan said. She's got a lot of experience as a trainer and really helped redesign our fitness.
The British Columbia native said that some things have definitely changed since her first stint at Ohio. The facilities have expanded. The team's turf field at Pruitt Stadium did not come until her junior year. The addition of a watering system and lights for the field are other upgrades.
I joke with the girls all the time about how good they have it now
Johnstone said.
Johnstone also talked about the similarities.
I feel like the team is like a family
like it was when I was here
she said. They all do everything together and are a tight-knit community.
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