By Lee Davis
It’s been 15 years since Krystle Johnson picked up her high school diploma, but she still bleeds orange and black.
Johnson earned all-state honors as a center while leading the Hoover Lady Bucs to the Class 6A basketball title in 2001. Although she played college ball at UCLA and the University of Alabama, the lure of her high school roots remained strong.
Her career dream was answered a few weeks ago, when Johnson was named the new head coach of the Hoover girls program, replacing Tiffany Frederick.
“When I decided after college that I wanted to coach, my goal was to be at the collegiate level,” Johnson said last week. “The other goal was to be the head coach at Hoover. I feel like I’ve finally come home.”
Johnson’s path back to Hoover was comparatively short. After graduating from Alabama, she spent five years as junior varsity coach of the Lady Bucs and an assistant to head coach Donnie Quinn, as Hoover won two state titles. In 2012, Johnson accepted the position of head coach at Huntsville High School.
The results were immediate. Johnson guided the Lady Panthers to their first-ever Final Four appearance and was named Tennessee Valley Coach of the Year. Under her leadership, Huntsville made another Final Four appearance in 2015 and compiled a 98-40 record in four years.
Johnson said she loved her time in Huntsville, but when her alma mater called, she couldn’t say no.
“The Huntsville community was like family to me,” Johnson said.
“It was a special place, and things got very emotional when I left. But I never wanted to be anywhere but Hoover. When they called, I had to go.”
Johnson describes her coaching style as “disciplinarian,” with a personal touch.
“I want to create a family atmosphere where I’m considered the favorite old auntie,” she said. “I won’t necessarily scream and yell, but we will make it very clear to our players what is expected. The standards are very high at Hoover and we are going to require players to work hard to make us the best girls basketball program in the state again.”
Hoover fans can expect to see a lot of fast-breaking and pressing from the Lady Bucs in the new season.
“One difference between Hoover and Huntsville is that we will have more depth than we had up there,” Johnson said. “We should have as many as 12 really good players. That means we’ll be able to do more different things. I’m very impressed with the talent pool that we have.”
While there is much work ahead, Johnson is taking time to savor the moment of being a Favorite Daughter returning to the scene of her high school glory days.
“I love coaching,” she said. “I truly have a passion for the girls and the game. And I’m most passionate about coaching at Hoover High School again.”
Johnson gave no timetable for when fans can expect their team to return to the Final Four, but she made one promise: “Our girls will give a great effort every night,” she said. “If they don’t they will definitely hear from me. I want them to have the same passion for Hoover basketball that I do. If they do that, the championships will take care of themselves.”
It may have been inevitable that Krystle Johnson one day would return to coach Hoover girls basketball. Lady Buccaneer boosters are likely to be happy that it happened so soon.
Summer School…
While a former Over the Mountain basketball star was returning to her roots, a current one was preparing for a new season. Hannah Barber, a rising junior at Homewood, spent most of July playing in tournaments throughout the South with the Alabama Southern Stars. She competed primarily against rising seniors.
“We must have played 20, 25 games,” Barber said last week. “We saw some really good competition. There were teams from California, Florida and Georgia. It was a great experience.”
Although Barber already has a well-earned reputation for intensity on the court, she said she learned a valuable lesson in the tournament about the importance of staying focused at all times.
“The biggest takeaway from the tournament was that I have to keep my mind in the game on every single possession,” she said. “Against the tougher competition, there’s no time to relax. A turnover at the start of the game can be as damaging as one in the fourth quarter. It could cost your team a basket that could have won the game.”
Barber helped lead the Lady Patriots to the state Class 6A championship as a freshman sensation in 2015. Homewood reached the final again the next season, before losing its crown to a red-hot LeFlore team 80-65.
“It was a humbling experience,” Barber recalled. “We had expected to win (the state championship) again, and falling short was painful. But we’re going to use that as extra motivation to get back to the BJCC and win another championship this year.”
Homewood resumed classes on Aug. 10.
“I don’t know if I’m necessarily looking forward to going back to school,” she said, laughing. “I am looking forward to the season, and if we don’t go back to school, there’s no season.”
A personal highlight of the summer for Barber was her 16th birthday, as she became a licensed driver.
“It’s a lot more convenient for my parents,” she said. “They don’t have to always be driving me around to practice or camps. It’s nice to be able to drive myself everywhere.”
With Hannah Barber at the wheel, the Lady Patriots’ championship aspirations may go back into high gear.
