Kelly Johnson enters his eighth year as the director of athletics and head women's basketball coach at Peace College. During his tenure, eight Pacers have been named to the USA South's women's basketball all-conference team and 30 to the league's all-academic team. Johnson served as the president of the USA South Athletic Conference July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2011.

During the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 seasons the Pacers enjoyed their best finish to-date with tie for third place in regular season conference standings since joining the USA South in 2003. The team advanced to the conference tournament semifinals both years. In 2006-2007 the Pacers finished sixth during the regular season and was eliminated in the league tournament quarterfinals.

Johnson spent 20 years teaching and coaching at Arendell Parrott Academy in Kinston, North Carolina. He served as the varsity boys’ head basketball coach for eight seasons as well as director of athletics for 18 years. Coach Johnson took his 2001 basketball team to the NCISAA state championship game; they were also state semifinalist in 1997 and 2002. His 2000, 2001 and 2002 teams were both regular season and tournament champions in the East Plains Independent Conference.

Coach Johnson and wife Debbie founded and ran the East Carolina Storm AAU girls’ basketball program from 1993 to 2004. His 14 and under team won the North Carolina State Championship in 1995 advancing to the AAU nationals that same year. The same team also advanced to the AAU nationals in 1997 and 1998. In 2002 his 13 and under team won the AAU National Invitational Tournament bronze division in Orlando, Florida. Johnson coached 20 girls who went on to play college basketball including Teana McKiver, a Tulane University graduate who is now a member of the Charlotte Sting of the WNBA.

A 1977 graduate of East Carolina University, Johnson earned a Master of Arts in Education from East Carolina in 1989. He played two years of intercollegiate basketball at Lenoir Community College from 1973-1975. Johnson and his wife have three children: Patrick, a graduate of East Carolina University ('00), Tate, a UNC-Wilmington graduate ('03), and Brooke, a Peace College alumna ('04).

Women’s basketball assistant coach Michelle Simonson will assume the role of head cross country coach in November. She joined the program in August as the assistant and will utilize her experience in strength training and conditioning to enhance the program.

Simonson graduated from Peace College in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and earned an associate's degree in 2004. She works full time as a field biologist for the North Carolina Division of Water Quality but maintains close ties to the Peace community. In addition to her role with the Pacers, Simonson led expedition classes on backpacking the Appalachian Trail and mentored water quality student research projects through the biology department.

While at Peace, Simonson earned numerous honors within both the academic and athletic communities. She was named the 2006 Outstanding Graduate and received the year's Outstanding Senior Award. She was a four-year member of the basketball team, serving as captain her senior season. Simonson earned the athletic department's prestigious Frazier Cup, awarded annually to the individual who best exemplifies the characteristics of a student-athlete. Additionally, Simonson was presented the Scholar Athlete Award and was named the basketball team’s Defensive Player of the Year.

She fit thousands of individuals in running shoes as a fit-specialist with New Balance, served as a volunteer coach for several community 5K road and trail programs, and remains an avid runner herself completing her first marathon in January 2010.  Her favorite race was the Ragnar Relay, where she competed on a 12-person team alternating miles to run a total of 200 miles from Cumberland, Maryland to Washington, D.C.

A native of West Palm Beach, Florida, Simonson currently resides in Raleigh.  She enjoys training for endurance runs in Vibram FiveFingers, backpacking, traveling, playing the guitar, and reconnecting with her Peace family.