CLARKSVILLE - Austin Peay State University head volleyball coach Mike Johnson has resigned his position to pursue other professional opportunities the athletics department announced, Monday.

Johnson made his head coaching debut last season and led the Lady Govs to a 22-9 record and a second-place finish (15-3) in the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season race. It was Austin Peay's best OVC finish since winning the regular-season crown in 1992. The Lady Govs saw three players receive All-OVC (first or second team) honors in the same season for the first time in program history.

"We want to thank Mike for his contributions to Austin Peay volleyball," said Austin Peay senior women's administrator Cheryl Holt. "His hard work has helped our program continue its recent success. We wish him the best in his future endeavors."

"It is with a mixture of sadness and excitement that I leave Austin Peay," said Johnson. "This university has been a wonderful, welcoming place for myself and my family and the people here will be dearly missed.

"I wish to sincerely thank Dave Loos and Cheryl Holt for having had the opportunity to lead this program.  My deepest thanks though go out to the players and the staff that I have had the joy of working with. It is only thanks to their effort and commitment that I might have this opportunity. That gift that they have given me is one I will not soon forget."

The process for finding the Lady Govs seventh head coach will be announced at a later date.

- AP -