By Chris Sokoloski

csokoloski@gtowntimes.com

Andrews High School softball and volleyball coach Meagen Johnson has been elected to the Coastal Carolina University Athletics Hall of Fame.

"It's definitely an honor," Johnson said. "I was really surprised when they called a few weeks ago and told me."

Johnson, a 2006 graduate, said she wants to become more involved with her alma mater in Conway.

It will be easier for her to do that when school starts, as she has accepted a position at Carolina Forest High School, where she will coach softball and teach social studies.

The Panthers lost in the Class AAAA softball state final in May.

"It's a great opportunity," Johnson said. "I'm sad to leave the people. The Andrews people have been very good to me, so supportive."

Johnson, the daughter of longtime Georgetown High School baseball coach Mike Johnson, grew up in Georgetown and spent two years at Furman University before transferring to Coastal.

She led Coastal to Big South regular season and tournament championships in 2006, and played in the NCAA Regionals.

"That had always been something I wanted to be apart of," Johnson said. "It was really exciting."

As a senior, she ranked fourth in the nation in home runs (20), second in slugging percentage (.894), 11th in RBIs (56) and 22nd in walks (35).

She was named Big South Player of the Year and Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and earned first team Academic All-America and first team NFCA All-Southeastern Region honors.

Her 20 home runs in 2006 are a Coastal record.

For her career, she ranks eighth in batting average (.343) at Coastal, sixth in home runs (22), second in slugging percentage (.682), fifth in on-base percentage (.457) and fourth in ERA (1.66).

Her 1.66 ERA is ninth best in Big South history.

"Since I was only there two years, I just tried to play the best I could while I had the time there," Johnson said. "I had a great team those two years so that made a difference."

Johnson led Andrews to the Lower State tournament this year, where they lost to eventual Lower State champion Dillon.

Johnson took her Yellow Jackets to a Coastal softball game every season, a tradition she will likely continue with the Panthers.

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Meagen Johson will be inducted into the Hall of Fame during a ceremony on Oct. 12, and will be honored the next day at the Chanticleers' football game.

This year's other inductees are: Dustin Johnson, golf; Mike Costanzo, baseball; Anne Marie Moutsinga, cross country and track; and Quinton Teal and Maurice Simpkins, football.