Johnson to Head CSLA Program

Former Palisades High girls basketball coach Torino Johnson is moving up in the world.

After serving as an assistant for the Cal State LA women’s program the last two years, Johnson has been hired as head coach for the 2019-20 season. The Golden Eagles went 14-15 overall in 2017-18 and 9-18 last winter.

Johnson coached the Pali High girls for 10 seasons, resigning in 2017 shortly after taking the Dolphins to their third straight City Open Division final (they lost in overtime to Fairfax). He took the program to new heights, recording a 203-123 record and piloting the Dolphins to four City Section crowns: back-to-back Division II titles in 2011-12 and back-to-back Open Division titles in 2015-16.

Under Johnson’s steady guidance Palisades posted a stellar 92-28 record in Western League play and captured four league championships. He earned the City Coach of the Year Award four times and was name Cal-Hi Sports Division I State Coach of the Year in 2016.

In addition to his prep success Johnson supported Team USA as a court coach in 2015, giving him the opportunity to develop and train USA Olympic Players and future collegiate student-athletes.