Johnston was hired as an assistant coach prior to the 2019 season. The 2025 season will be Johnston's seventh on Larry Puzan's staff.
Johnston serves as the team’s hitting coach and saw the program reach new heights during the 2024 season at the Purple and White set program records in hits, runs, doubles, and RBI while posting the second-most wins in a season with 29, including a program-best 16 league wins. A total of five Purple Eagles had a batting average north of .300, the most since Johnston arrived on Montealge Ridge. Niagara also hit a total of 34 home runs, the most with Johnston serving as hitting coach.
Prior to Niagara, Johnston served four years as the associate head softball coach at Erie Community College. The Kats made it to the Western New York Athletic Conference tournament in each of the last two seasons. The team's appearance in the 2017 WNYAC playoffs was the first postseason appearance for the program in 18 years.
Additionally, Johnston has spent 14 seasons coaching elite-level travel softball in the area, and has coached high school football and wrestling for 32 years. For the past 26 years, Johnston has worked as a teacher and coach within the Grand Island Central School District.
A 1990 graduate of Canisius College, Johnston is also the father of Niagara junior pitcher Emily Johnston.
