Former Prairie coach Brett Johnson has been hired as the girls basketball coach at Skyview, the school announced this week.
“I was away from it for a year and I realized I loved coaching,” Johnson said.
Johnson takes over for Jennifer Buscher, who stepped down in March after leading the Storm for seven seasons and to the 2012 4A state championship.
The team is graduating a stellar class of seniors this school year. Johnson has heard the term “rebuilding” associated with the program.
“That’s what everybody’s telling me,” he said. “I like it. I like the challenge.”
Johnson said he sees Camas as the power in the 4A Greater St. Helens League now. He added that Union should be strong, too. But he is not counting out Skyview in any postseason discussion.
“We’re going to run. We’re going to press,” Johnson said. “Hit them before they hit you.”
Johnson posted a 59-18 mark in three seasons as Prairie’s girls basketball coach for 2013-2016. He led the Falcons to back-to-back state quarterfinal appearances in 2015 and 2016.
Johnson, 47, played three seasons for the University of Oregon men’s basketball team and had been an assistant coach for the Prairie boys teams before taking over as the girls coach.
Under Buscher, the Storm won six league titles and advanced to the state tournament four times, including a 25-3 campaign in 2012 that culminated with a 46-43 win over Central Valley of Veradale in the 4A state championship game.
