A city man, who dabbles as a City Councilman, is going into the history books come the 2025-2006 school year. Steve Johnstone was recently named the first women’s soccer coach at Notre Dame of West Haven, heralding in the beginning of its life as a co-educational institution, and beginning a new chapter in his storied athletic history.
With the inclusion of women in its class of 2029, the school enters a new chapter, and with all the other components to accommodate females, must add programs for interscholastic athletics. Soccer will be the first offering for Notre Dame, and the pedigree of its new coach means the new program will be in good shape.
Johnstone played his scholastic soccer at Christian Heritage School in Trumbull as a four-year starter and captain his senior year. He then earned a walk-on scholarship at Nyack College, but finished his collegiate career at Eastern Nazarene College as a three-year starter and captain.
He played one year semi-professional ball with the New York Metro Stars, and then took up the whistle as a coach, working 13 years for the Ole Soccer training program out of Fiarfield County, which was followed up by coaching stints at Notre Dame of Fairfield (now Notre Dame Prep) Stratford High School and Haddam=Killingworth Regional High School. He took a job at Mitchell College as well, coaching there for two seasons.
But it was time to start a family, and with it came a hiatus in his coaching career.
“When my wife and I started our family five years ago the deal was that if I were to coach at the higher levels again that it would have to be local,” he said. “I’ve had so many interviews since then, but unfortunately due to union contracts with teachers, the job was always awarded to someone else. But when Notre Dame announced they were looking for a girls soccer coach I had to throw my name in the hat. And now to be able to coach in my hometown where I grew up and where my family has lived since before West Haven was even founded is pretty special.”
Not only that, the West Havener has been itching to get back to the sidelines, and the Notre Dame job filled a void he’s been feeling.
“I’m overjoyed and thrilled to be given this opportunity. I’ve been looking for a local coaching job for a long time,” he said
The announcement was a high point in a year that has seen its own special setbacks. Johnstone had to take a hiatus from his Tenth District City Council duties earlier, when it was determined he had suffered a heart attack at a young age. This job was just the thing to rebound from the ailment.
“To say the last year has been crazy is the ultimate understatement. Having a heart attack at the age of 37, celebrating the birth of my second daughter two weeks later, and then running for State Senate, it’s been one wild ride. Believe me, the Good Lord and I have had many discussions during that time but it’s been really cool to see it all come together,” he said.
On his coaching career, Johnstone has taken on assignments that have been varied, but always presented a certain challenge.
“Usually in the past I’ve always been brought in to fix programs that no one wanted or programs that we’re in severe need of overhaul. Not this time. This is my shot and my chance to show what I can do. I’m still considered to be very young on the coaching scale. The part I’m looking forward to the most is developing a culture. I want everyone to know I’m not here to play soccer politics. I’m here to compete, be successful on and off the field and get my players ready for the real world to make a positive impact. You’re going to hear me say it early and often, ‘No one is above the team.’ I can’t wait to get started and the fall can’t come soon enough,” he said.
Notre Dame is just as excited having Johnstone on its nascent female sports roster. Athletic Director Jason Shea was lavish in his praise.
“We are thrilled to welcome Steve to the Notre Dame athletic community as our first-ever girls’ head soccer coach. His extensive experience and success as a player, college coach, and high school coach make him the ideal leader to build our soccer program,” Shea said. “Equally important, Steve’s deep commitment to his community and public service—especially in West Haven—will serve as an inspiring example for the young women in our soccer program. We are confident that his leadership will instill the values and traditions of the Holy Cross mission in our student-athletes.”
Notre Dame High School was the first school founded by the Brothers of Holy Cross. Today, there are 22 Holy Cross high schools across the United States, all of which began as single-gender institutions. With our transition to coeducation, we are proud to become the 20th Holy Cross high school to welcome young women into our community.
He resides with his wife, Allie, and daughters, Allena (4) and Fiona (1).