Track & Field / Cross Country

Central Methodist Director of Track & Field/Cross Country, Kenny Anderson, named Kailey Johnson Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator for the Eagles on July, 2nd 2025. 

Johnson previously served as a graduate assistant for the program during the 2024-25 academic year.

"Promoting KJ to a full-time position was one of the easiest and most rewarding decisions I've made," stated Coach Anderson. "From day one as a graduate assistant, she brought an incredible level of professionalism, consistency, and heart to everything she did. Our athletes trust her, our administration values her, and the standard she holds herself to raises the bar for everyone around her."

In 2024-25, Johnson took on several key roles, including Director of Operations, while also coaching the sprints, hurdles, and combined events. She was named the 2025 Heart Women's Indoor Coach of the Year after helping to lead the women to their third indoor title in the last four years this past February. The women scored 209 total points, the most points scored during their indoor championship run. 

With Johnson on staff in 2024-25, the Eagles won three of four Heart Championships (Women's Indoor, Women's Outdoor, Men's Outdoor), qualified 42 athletes for nationals, earned 20 NAIA All-Americans, and a pair of national championships for Brayton Stephenson in the shot put. 

"She's not only a great technical coach—she's a culture-builder, a mentor, and someone who truly represents what we want this program to be about," added Anderson. "What she brings to this program—through her leadership, energy, and investment in our student-athletes—is simply invaluable. I'm incredibly proud of her growth and couldn't be more excited about the future with her on staff full-time."

Prior to coaching, Coach KJ was a four-year track athlete for the Eagles from 2020 to 2024. She was a six-time Heart of America Conference Champion, highlighted by back-to-back titles in the indoor 60m hurdles (2021 & 2022). Additionally, the native of Columbia, Missouri, was named the 2021 Heart Women's Indoor Athlete of the Meet and the 2022 Heart Women's Indoor Highest Point Scorer. 

Johnson graduated from Central Methodist in the spring of 2024 with a Bachelor's degree in Communications.