Trooper Johnson: “I am Hoping to Change the Culture of the National Team Program”

The U25 Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Head Coach, Trooper Johnson, wants to alter the national team program’s ethos, as he hopes to help the team progress to the World Championships.

In 2019, the American-born Trooper visited South Africa for the U25 Women’s World Championships and was persuaded by Gerry Smith to explore program development prospects for the national team, which ultimately led to him taking on the role of women’s team coach.

His significant expertise includes working as the head coach of the USA Women’s team that competed in the 2021 Tokyo Rio Paralympics and as the assistant coach of the women’s senior national squad that competed at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.

The national team’s participation in the upcoming quad World Championships and future qualification for the Paralympic Games are Johnson’s goals.

Speaking with gsport’s Tlamelo Kganakga, Trooper Johnson chats more about his journey and South African experience.

Trooper, thank you for chatting to us. Please tell us about yourself and where you are from.

I am from a town in the San Francisco Bay Area in California, USA. My wife and I have lived in this area for over 25 years. We have four children, including a set of triplets.

When and where did your love for sport begin. Did you play?

I played sports all my life since the age of five years old. I love sports and the way it connects people. I was paralyzed in a car accident when I was 17 years old and started playing wheelchair basketball soon afterwards. I was selected to my first USA National Team in 1990 and competed with the National Team until 2004. I competed in four Paralympic Games (1992, 1996, 2000, 2004). In 2008 I started coaching a youth program for kids with physical disabilities in Northern California. I started working with the USA High Performance Program in 2012 and started coaching the National Teams in 2013. In 2013 I was the Head Coach of the USA U21 Women’s National Team and one of the Assistant Coaches for the USA U23 Men’s Team. I also took on the position of the Assistant Coach for the USA Women’s Senior National Team that would compete in the Rio Paralympic Games in 2016. After that, I became the Head Coach of the USA Women’s team that competed in the Tokyo Paralympic Games in 2021.

You are the Head coach of Amawheela girls, how did that come about?

During the U25 Women’s World Championship Tournament in 2019, I met with Gerry Smith and discussed development opportunities for the South African programs. I went down to South Africa and conducted clinics in Durban, Johannesburg, and Cape Town. When I stopped coaching for the USA National Team, Gerry Smith contacted me and asked if I would be interested in coaching for South Africa.

How has it been coaching the women’s team?

It has been an incredible experience. Obviously there are language issues and I have to remember to make sure everyone is understanding what I am asking of them. The athletes have been adjusting to what I expect of them and I believe we are headed in the right direction.

The ladies have done very well representing South Africa in some continental competitions. Why did you choose South Africa’s women’s team?

The U25 team has done well competing against some of the other African Nations, but to be realistic, the teams they have faced do not represent the level of competition the rest of the world offers. We are still in a development process. Our goal isn’t to beat Ethiopia or DRC. Our goal needs to be to defeat Algeria and some of the European or South American teams and qualify for the World Championships and Paralympic Games.

What are some of the challenges you have faced and how have you been able to overcome them?

In addition to the language issue, we are trying to change the culture of the program. I believe some of the athletes are comfortable beating other developing countries, and have not seen themselves moving beyond that. There are differences in the resources available between the different National Team programs. There are issues with equipment, gym time, and opportunities to play. I am still working on how to be creative to address some of those issues.

What has been some of your career highlights?

I believe having been in six Paralympic Games (four as a player and two as a coach) is something I am proud of. I have been able to assist programs around the world and advance the sport in some way with developing countries.

Who and what inspires you?

This is a great question. I place a high value on sweat. The people that find a way to make things happen rather than constantly being presented with opportunities. No matter how much gym time you have, if you don’t actually get in there and put in the work it doesn’t count. Michael Jordan, Kobe, LeBron, Steph Curry, are great sports figures that pushed themselves to get the absolute most out of their natural talent. But they are all individuals that push themselves to excel.

What would you say is or has been your fondest memories of staying in South Africa?

I have been able to go on safari a couple of times, and visit Durban and Cape Town and it is all beautiful. However, some of the best memories have been hearing the players start singing between practices. It is just amazing to hear.

What do you think of the progress of women’s sport in South Africa as compared to U.S?

That is a great question and I am not sure I have enough information to accurately answer this. I will say this; The progress that has been made around the world has been great. There is still a lot of work to go, but from my experience with the wheelchair basketball programs, South Africa has provided every opportunity to women that they have to men. Now that the opportunities are there, we must continue to make sure that the barriers that might impact a player’s ability to play are addressed. I believe WBSA does an incredible job of trying to address those barriers.

What do you think needs to be done to close the visibility gap between men and women in sport, especially for disabled athletes?

That is the golden question. Unfortunately, I believe all we can do is measure progress and celebrate small steps. If you look at a viewership model, promote disabled sports, the general population is going to tend to watch able-bodied sports. And if you look at the gender breakdown, it tends to lean towards male dominated sports. Hopefully we can start closing the gap.

What’s your greatest career ambition?

Right now, I am hoping to change the culture of the National Team program. I hope to help the South African teams team get into the World Championships in the next quad, and move them in the direction of qualifying for the Paralympic Games in the future.

What’s your advice to women who want to get into the sport industry?

Find a way. Do not let anyone tell you that you don’t belong, that you aren’t good enough, or that you can’t do it. There will always be obstacles that you will face, but take them in small pieces and find solutions. Women belong in sports!

Lastly, what do you think we as media can do to amplify women’s sport coverage going forward?

Tell the athlete’s story. There are so many kids out there that are facing the same struggles as some of our athletes. Having those kids understand that there are people that have overcome those same issues and letting them know that there is light at the end of the tunnel is important.

Thank you!