Has been head coach for Georgia Tech (2009-2013) and Louisiana State University (2022-present) and Associate Head Coach for University of Texas at Austin (2014-2021).
Led the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets to the NCAA Tournament First Round (2009) and the LSU Tigers to the NCAA Tournament second round (2022). In Johnson's time at Texas, the Longhorns made it to the NCAA tournament every year.

Played volleyball for LSU from 1987-1990.
Helped get the LSU Tigers to the Southeastern Conference titles in 1989 and 1990. In the 1990 NCAA tournament, she also assisted the LSU Tigers in making it to the Final Four for the first time.

Tonya Johnson is 1 of 74 total Black volleyball head coaches in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
Johnson is also on the Advancement of Blacks in Sports (ABIS) Black volleyball coaches watch list along with 18 other women and men.