HONOLULU—As announced by head coach Laura Beeman and the University of Hawai'i women's basketball program, Paris Johnson will be the newest addition to the coaching staff for the 2019-2020 season.
 
"I'm extremely excited to welcome Paris (Johnson) to our 'ohana," said Beeman. "Paris has played at a high level and has experiences our players are striving for; she will be able to help in the overall player development with our post players and guards. Her familiarity with mainland recruiting will also allow her to jump right into our recruiting process. Paris is also coming home, her mother, stepfather, and brother live on O'ahu, deepening our program's connection with the aloha spirit."
 
Johnson spent last season as an assistant coach with Utah State, helping the program earn a bid into the Women's National Invitational Tournament. Before her time in Logan, Utah, Johnson served as the director of player personnel at San Diego State.
 
"I'm honored and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the legacy Laura Beeman is building," said Johnson. "It surpasses the basketball court. Her passion for the community, for her players and staff, is inspiring. The University of Hawaii offers an array of opportunities for student-athletes, and I look forward to joining her forces, Teneshia Ruff, Alex Delanian, Khalilah Mitchell and the community. I'd also like to thank David A.K Matlin, Lois Manin, and especially Coach Beeman for this opportunity to grow as a young coach. It's a blessing to return home."
 
Johnson spent the first few years of her childhood growing up in Laie, O'ahu until moving to the mainland at the age of four. She later grew into and became a prominent prep player, leading to Johnson playing four seasons at San Diego State where she was a four-year letter winner from 2008-2011. She is one of 21 1,000-point scorers in Aztec history, finishing her career with 1,598 points. She still holds the single-game (9), single-season (94) and career (267) blocks records at SDSU. Johnson was a four-time all-Mountain West honoree and helped the Aztecs to the Mountain West Tournament championship in 2010, leading to a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
 
After graduating in 2011 with a degree in social science, Johnson continued her playing career overseas for five years, making stops in Australia, Poland, Spain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.
 
Her first break into the coaching profession was at her alma mater in 2016 as the director of player personnel and assistant recruiting coordinator, a possession she held for two seasons with the Aztecs.