Johnson Named One of College Basketball’s Most Impactful Assistants – Cal Poly

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Cal Poly women’s basketball associate head coach Samba Johnson has been named one of the of 50 most impactful women’s assistants in the country by Silver Waves Media, the organization announced this week.

Over the last five years, the Most Impactful Women’s Assistants lists recognize some of the most outstanding and impactful assistants in Division I women’s basketball.

Johnson was one of five assistant coaches from Big West schools to earn the accolade. Johnson just completed his second season as the top assistant coach on head coach Shanele Stires’ staff.

“This honor is well deserved for Coach Johnson,” Stires said. “His passion for our players and our program comes to light in every aspect of our program. We are blessed to work with Coach Johnson every day. To see him recognized in this manner is befitting of a coach of his stature.”

In Johnson and Stires’ first year together, he was part of a staff that more than tripled the win total from the previous year. This past season, the Mustangs won 17 games while also finishing third in the Big West regular season standings and made the Postseason WNIT for the first time in 10 years.

This past season, he helped coach a Mustangs team that ranked top five in the Big West in scoring, field goal percentage, three point percentage, free throw percentage, blocks, steals, and assists.

Following this season, Johnson was elevated by Stires from Assistant Coach to Associate Head Coach.