By Tyler Waldrep
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The University of South Carolina recently selected Trussville City Schools Athletics Director, Karen Johns, to join the 2015 Athletics Hall of Fame class.
Johns played softball for the Gamecocks while attending the school in 1985-88. During her time in Columbia, Johns left her mark, leading the team in batting average, hits and slugging percentage for three years.
Johns’ success did not go unnoticed at the time. She was a first team National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region player three times. She was also a first-team NFCA All-American catcher in her final two seasons with the Gamecocks.
Her impressive stat line has withstood the test of time. Johns remains on the school’s top 10 list in hitting, on-base and slugging percentages.
After her collegiate career ended, Johns took up coaching, eventually taking the head softball positions at Florida and Virginia. When she left the collegiate game behind, she carried her success with her, leading the U.S. Junior National Team to a gold medal in the 2011 Junior World Championships.
Johns resumed coaching this year when she took on coaching duties for Hewitt-Trussville’s softball team. She led the Huskies to 35-11 record, culminating in a state tournament appearance in Montgomery.
Johns will be inducted along with seven other selections at South Carolina’s Williams-Brice Stadium on September 10. The inductees will also be recognized publicly on September 12 when South Carolina hosts Kentucky.
Her husband, Bobby, is a 2010 inductee of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.