CHICAGO (February 26, 2024) — The Chicago Sky have hired Sydney Johnson as assistant coach under Head Coach Teresa Weatherspoon, the team announced today. This announcement comes after the Sky hired Crystal Robinson to the coaching staff last week.
“We are excited to welcome Assistant Coach Sydney Johnson to the Sky,” Chicago Sky Head Coach Teresa Weatherspoon said. “Sydney is an accomplished, experienced coach with a strong track record of winning and an exceptional focus on player development, defense, and analytics. He will be an incredible addition to the coaching staff.”
Johnson joins the coaching staff after most recently serving as the head coach of USA Basketball’s 3×3 U23 World Cup Team in September 2023. He was also selected as head coach of the 3×3 Men’s U23 Nations League Team in July 2023 and was a team scout for the USA Basketball 2020 FIBA AmeriCup Qualifying Team.
Outside of his experience with USA Basketball, Johnson began his coaching career as an assistant at Georgetown University from 2004-07, where he helped the Hoyas to their first Final Four in 22 years in 2007. He then took over head coaching duties at his alma mater, Princeton University, in 2007. Johnson led Princeton to an Ivy League Championship and earned an NCAA Tournament berth for the first time since 2004.
Following his time with Princeton, Johnson took over as head coach of Fairfield University in 2011, where he spent eight seasons. He recorded the most postseason appearances in school history (four), most postseason victories in school history (three) and tied for the second-most winning seasons (five) in program history. He also served as assistant coach of the United States Air Force Academy from 2020-21. During his collegiate playing career (1993-97), Johnson was the Ivy League Player of the Year in 1997 and holds the record for most career steals in Princeton history. He also played professionally overseas in Italy.