Johns takes over MHS' girls VB program
Welcome back
Your dreams were your ticket out
Welcome back
To that same old place that you laughed about
Well, the names have all changed
Since you hung around
But those dreams have remained
And they've turned around
Who'd have thought they'd lead you
Back here where we need you?
... Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back.
This theme song from the 1970s classic “Welcome Back Kotter” remains one of the signature tunes in television history. (If you’ve never heard it, it’s worth Googling).
In many ways, those lyrics perfectly describe how McKenzie Johns feels today.
Johns, a 2021 Middleton High School graduate, never saw herself returning to coach volleyball at her alma mater. But when the job opened up earlier this year, there Johns was filling out an application.
Much to her delight, Johns was recently named the Cardinals’ new head coach. Johns replaces Ben White, who stepped down after the 2025 season.
“Coming back to my alma mater is something if you would've asked me five years ago I wouldn't see myself here,” Johns said. “I am ready to give back to this program and the sport that gave me so many opportunities in life.
“I was in the shoes that athletes across the program are in now, meaning I can be a role model to these girls. I know the pride behind wearing the jersey and the experience of the energy in the gym. It's an experience you can't manufacture.”
Johns had a solid career at MHS during a time when the 2020 fall season was moved to the spring due to COVID.
Johns then played two years of indoor volleyball and beach volleyball at Bryant and Stratton College — a National Junior College Athletic Association — in Wauwatosa. During her time at Bryant & Stratton, Johns and the Bobcats competed in the national beach volleyball tournament twice.
Johns also added track and field to her busy schedule while at Bryant & Stratton.
Johns then transferred to Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa, and continued her indoor volleyball career.
“I absolutely loved the experience of continuing my athletic career,” Johns said. “I truly don't know what I would've done if I didn't continue athletics. I feel like I only know sports and school together. One without the other feels empty to me.”
Now, she’ll have both again — coaching at the school she grew up in.
Johns has her share of coaching experience, leading a club team in Germantown for two years, then becoming an assistant coach at MHS last year. Now, Johns is excited to give back at MHS while trying to help the Cardinals become a statewide force once again.
“Coach White established a strong foundation,” Johns said. “I am excited to create more cohesiveness and sisterhood across the program as whole, because at the end of the day those athletes who start at the freshmen level are looking up to the varsity athletes.”
Johns has watched from afar as two Middleton coaches close to her in age have elevated their programs at MHS.
Dylan Griffith, a 2019 MHS graduate, has helped lead Middleton’s boys volleyball program to two of the last three state championships. And Kevin Meicher, another 2019 MHS graduate, has helped lead the Cardinals’ wrestlers to heights they hadn’t reached in decades.
Middleton’s girls volleyball program was once in that stratosphere, reaching the state tournament four times between 2001-2009 under former coach Franco Marcos. The Cardinals have reached state just once since then, though, (2022) and haven’t won a match at state since 2009.
While Middleton has remained a consistent winner, Johns would like nothing more than take things up a notch.
“I look at other sports across Middleton and it is huge to see all of the alums who come back to coach,” Johns said. “It shows what Middleton has to offer and to continue that legacy is even more important. It speaks volumes.”
The new season is still more than four months away, but Johns can’t wait.
As the “Welcome Back Kotter” theme song said, “Welcome back.”
“I'm ready to hit the ground running,” Johns said.
