Brandy Johnston begins her fifth season as head women's golf coach at Loyola University Chicago in 2025--26. Prior to her arrival in Rogers Park, Johnston spent three seasons at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wis.
In 2024-25, Johnston was tabbed the first every Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year, while leading Cate Reisigner to Golfer of the Year and Grace Hui to Most Outstanding Rookie accolades. Reisinger and Hui were joined by Madison Haugen and Cassie Psuik as A-10 All-Conference honorees.
The Ramblers held on to first place over the first two round of action at the championship before finishing third overall. Loyola posted a team score of 942 (304-312-326). Reisinger led the way in second place with a score of 226 (72-76-78). It was one of five top-10 finishes for the senior this season.
Reisinger was joined in the top-10 by Hui who came in seventh. Psuik, Haugen, and Grace Durkin finished in 13th, 14th, and 15thplace, respectively.
In the classroom, Johnston led the Ramblers to several accolades. Reisinger was named Atlantic 10 All-Academic, while also earning CSC Academic All-District and WGCA All-American Scholar honors. Jolie Brochu, Psuik, Hui, and Haugen were tabbed WGCA All-American Scholars, while Brochu and Psuik also earned CSC Academic All-District awards.
Johnston's 2022-23 season will go down as a historic first year at the helm, taking the Ramblers back to the winner's circle for the first time since 2019. The Ramblers took victories at the Cardinal Classic as well as the inaugural Loyola Parkinson Invitational, with Grace Suter earning her first collegiate victory at the Dolores Black Falcon Invitational. Johnston's squad wrapped up their year with the lowest scoring average in program history (308.61) as well as the most birdies in a season (252) in addition to a multitude of other records broken. Their play was good enough to secure a third place finish in their first season as an affiliate member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
"We are excited to announce the hiring of Brandy Johnston as our new head women's golf coach," Loyola Director of Athletics Steve Watson said after her hire in 2021. "Brandy brings high level energy and competitiveness and has a true passion for making a difference in the lives of her golfers. Add on her experience as a student-athlete, LPGA teaching professional, and the success she's had at the helm of the golf programs at Carthage, and you have what we feel is great fit to lead our program and provide an unparalleled experience for our student-athletes."
"I'm truly humbled and honored to be named the next head coach of Loyola Women's Golf," Johnston stated. "Coming off a record-setting 2021-22 campaign, this is an exciting time for the program. I can't thank Steve Watson and (Deputy Director of Athletics) Holly Strauss-O'Brien enough for this incredible opportunity! It's been clear throughout the process that I'm inheriting a special group of young women who've made their mark on the golf course and in the classroom. I'm looking forward to getting to know them as we work together to build on the tradition of excellence that (former head coach) Carly Werwie has established over the past four years. I can't wait to get started!"
After serving as head coach of the women's team for the 2019-20 season, Johnston was promoted to Director of Golf in September of 2020, overseeing both the men's and women's programs. A three-time College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Women's Coach of the Year, Johnston piloted the Firebirds' women's squad to a pair of CCIW team titles and a Top 25 ranking during a 2021-22 season that was highlighted by an 18th-place finish at the NCAA Division III Women's Golf Championship.
During her time at Carthage, Johnston coached a total of 13 All-CCIW selections, a group that included five All-Region honorees. Two Firebirds captured CCIW individual titles, with Zachary Shawhan (2020-21) and Adrienne Rohwedder(2021-22) each topping the leaderboard at the league meet. Johnston's teams also excelled away from the course, with 18 student-athletes earning All-American Scholar recognition.
"I'd also like to thank Director of Athletics Nate Stewart, Associate Athletic Director Kelsey Peterson, the student-athletes, and my fellow coaches at Carthage," Johnston added. "I've learned something from each and every one of them over these past three years, and I wouldn't be the coach I am today without them. Last but not least, many thanks to my husband, Bob, and my daughters, Josie and Jordan. It's because of their constant support that I'm able to do what I love every single day."
Prior to making her way to Carthage, Johnston spent six years as head coach of the girls program at Franklin High School in Franklin, Wis., leading the Sabres to five Southeast Conference championships, four Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Association (WIAA) regional titles, and two WIAA sectional crowns, all of which were program firsts. Named the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Area Coach of the Year, she guided the school to its first WIAA State Tournament appearances, earning top-five finishes in both 2015 and 2017.
A Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Teaching Professional who received her Level Three Teaching Certification in 2021, Johnston was a three-year letterwinner on the women's golf team at Indiana University. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, the Wisconsin native played on the Hoosiers' team that qualified for the 1994 NCAA Women's Golf Championship.
A 1996 graduate of Indiana, Johnston and her husband, Bob, and parents to two daughters, Josie and Jordan.
