Tulsa Women's Soccer Assistant Coaches:

Rachel Blankenship

The University of Tulsa alumnus, Rachel (Thun) Blankenship, returned in 2019 to serve as an intern for the Golden Hurricane soccer program and moved into an assistant coaching role prior to the 2021 campaign.  She is now in her fourth season overall.

A four-year letterwinner (2014-17), Blankenship started in 70 of 75 contests, and tallied 31 goals and 28 assists for 90 career points.  She concluded her career ranked first in assists, fifth in points and sixth in goals scored on Tulsa’s top 10 lists.  Blankenship was a four-time, first-team all-American Athletic Conference selection, was tabbed as the 2016 Midfielder of the Year and the 2014 Rookie of the Year, and was named to the 2014 all-Rookie team.

Blankenship, an Oklahoma City native, earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Tulsa in 2018.

She and her husband, Malachi, a TU alumnus and former football player, have one daughter, River.

Jo Johnson

Jo Johnson is in her second year with the Golden Hurricane as an assistant coach, joining the team prior to the 2021 season.

Johnson came to Tulsa after serving the previous seven years as the Jenks High School head girls coach.  She compiled an 81-22 overall record, coached 15 all-state players and 25 players who went on to play collegiately, and was named the 2020 United Soccer Coaches Oklahoma Coach of the Year for Girls High School Soccer.  At JHS, Johnson led all training sessions, game day coaching and team operations, including staff development, community service activities, fundraising and social media.  

Johnson has also worked with The Side FC, a pro amateur UWS League, and Tulsa soccer club teams West Side Alliance and Tulsa Soccer Club.

Prior to moving to Tulsa, Johnson was an assistant coach at her alma mater, UTEP, for two seasons (2010-11).

Johnson was a three-year letterwinner and starter at UTEP, earning Conference USA all-conference honors in 2009.  She also earned NJCAA All-American honors and was a first-team ACCAC all-conference honoree in 2006 while playing for Paradise Valley Community College.

Johnson, who holds a USSF C Coaching License, is slated to complete her ‘B’ coaching license in December.

Johnson and her husband, Jordan, have one daughter, Emma Jo, and one son, Jack.