UAH Athletics

Derek Johnston is in his third year as assistant coach for the UAH men's basketball program under head coach Lennie Acuff.

In Johnston's first two seasons on the UAH bench, the Chargers have won two GSC regular season titles, a GSC tournament, and appeared in two NCAA tournaments including hosting the 2016 NCAA South Regional where UAH advanced to the final.

Johnston played for the Chargers from 2006-10, appearing in 71 contests for UAH. During that time, the team reached the Gulf South Conference tournament each season including a championship game appearance in Johnston’s senior season, and Johnston also made a trip to the NCAA tournament with that 2010 team.
 
Johnston has most recently been the assistant coach of the men’s team at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. During his two seasons there, the squad reached the national championship game in 2014 while also recording an NCAA Division III Elite Eight appearance in 2013. Playing a significant role in recruiting there, he helped bring in high-academic student-athletes including the 2014 d3hoops.com National Rookie of the Year.
 
Prior to joining Williams College and after wrapping up his time in the Blue and White, Johnston began his coaching career with a two-season stint at Lexington High School in Lexington, Alabama, where he guided the program to its first county championship since 1995 while also leading his team to back-to-back round of 32 appearances for the first time since 2004-05.