Ohio University

Updated Jan. 24, 2025

After being named head coach on Nov. 16, 2017, Ohio alumna and member of the Kermit Blosser Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame Ali Johnstone has led the Bobcats to success over the past few years. She has since coached two Mid-American Conference Offensive Players of the Year. Johnstone previously served as an assistant coach at Ohio from 2009-2011. 

In 2024, she coached First Team All-MAC nominee Anouk Plaehn, who had the second-most game-winning goals in the MAC, as well as Second-Team nominee Bodhi Littlefield and All-Freshman member Marie De Grande. Ohio finished with a 7-11 overall record, including an overtime win against Michigan State. Ohio also made the MAC Tournament.  
 
In 2023, Johnstone was named MAC Co-Coach of the Year after leading Ohio to the postseason and a challenging schedule, highlighted by an overtime victory over Indiana. In MAC play, Johnstone led Ohio to a 4-3 mark, improving on last year's record. Ohio also recorded two shutouts in MAC play and defeated Kent State for the first time since 2013. 
 
Prior to returning to Athens, Johnstone spent six years on the staff at Northwestern, four of which as the associate head coach. While in Evanston, Johnstone earned a pair of Big Ten titles and coached eight All-America recipients. 
 
Johnstone’s first coaching venture was with the U-19 British Columbia Provincial A team in 2007 and the U-16 Regional High Performance team from 2006-08. Johnstone is also very involved with USA field hockey as a head Futures coach, a regional and national Futures tournament selector and a Junior High Performance Program volunteer coach.
 
Johnstone is a two-time NFHCA All-American and the first Bobcat to earn first-team All-MAC each of her four seasons in Athens, she graduated from Ohio in 2002 as one of the most decorated players in program history. Johnstone was a three-time first-team All-West Region honoree as well as the 2001 Ohio Female Student-Athlete of the Year. She has the career record for assists (36) and ranks third in all-time points (106) and sixth in career goals (35).
Johnstone gained extensive experience at the international playing level. A native of Delta, British Columbia, Johnstone played nine years and earned 35 caps for the Canadian national team. In 2005-06, Johnstone played professionally for Hamburg in the German Premier Division.
Johnstone earned her bachelor's degree in sports sciences from Ohio in 2002.