By Jonathan Caudle, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Transferring from one program to another at the collegiate level is no easy task to undertake. It requires one to familiarize oneself with a new coaching staff, new teammates, and a new academic landscape.
Junior forward Windee Johnson joined the Tennessee Tech women's basketball team starting in the 2018-19 season after a two-year career at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Ala.
Johnson was required to sit out during the Golden Eagles' 22-win season last year due to NCAA transfer rules, but Johnson continued to dedicate her focus to bettering herself and her teammates, despite not having the opportunity to take the court.
"Windee Johnson shows up every day to practice and strives to make her teammates better," expressed Tech assistant coach Allison Clark. "She is selfless and always puts her teammates first. She never ceases to have a positive attitude and works to motivate and encourage her teammates no matter what."
The epitome of a team player, from the practice court to the weight room, Johnson is always a constant source of encouragement and support for her teammates.
"She makes time to go to weights with those who don't have a partner," said Clark. "She is a positive light for our team every day in practice."
"Windee is the type of person who is going to make a positive impact wherever she goes because she has such a servant's heart," expressed head coach Kim Rosamond. "She always makes it about others rather than herself. Her ability to put other's first is truly rare, and it is one of the many reasons her teammates love her. She has earned the respect of not only this team, but also our coaching staff. I admire so many things about Windee, and I am truly grateful and proud to have her represent TTU women's basketball."
Since moving to Cookeville, Johnson has embraced the Golden Eagles' S.O.A.R culture, which represents serving others, owning it, acquiring knowledge, and responding positively in their everyday lives, and has become an integral part of the team.
"Windee is a huge, positive example for our program and our S.O.A.R culture here at Tennessee Tech," Clark explained. "She exemplifies our core values each and every day in practice, and always with a positive attitude. Every team needs a Windee Johnson."
It is for these qualities and dedication that Johnson is the recipient of the November Unsung Leader Award.
The Unsung Leader Award is selected from student-athletes, who have been nominated by their coaching staff, for exemplifying outstanding leadership qualities during the past month. The leadership can be shown on the field, in the weight room, at practice, in the classroom, in study hall, on campus, in the community or for a student club or organization.
The award honors a varsity student-athlete who has made a positive impact on their team and the Tennessee Tech community as a whole, through his or her dedication to demonstrating leadership traits, such as:
- Keep learning, growing and improving
- Follow through with excellence
- Accomplish more than expected
- Inspire and motivate others
Photo by Thomas Corhern