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CITY, N.D. (VCSUVikings.com) – Valley City State University athletic director Jill DeVries announced today that Vanessa Keeler-Johnson has been hired as VCSU head women’s basketball coach. 

Keeler-Johnson takes over for DeVries, who was recently promoted to athletic director after 17 years coaching the Vikings.

“We are so pleased that Vanessa has agreed to lead our women’s basketball program,” said DeVries. “She was a fierce competitor as a player and is an outstanding teacher of the game. She has experience at all levels as a player, assistant coach and a head coach. I believe she will be a tremendous asset to our department and the women’s basketball program. We look forward to working with Vanessa toward her goals of winning conference championships and giving our student-athletes a positive VCSU experience both athletically and academically.”

A native of Hartford, S.D., Keeler-Johnson comes to VCSU from Detroit Lakes Public Schools (Minn.) where she worked one year as head girls basketball coach and elementary reading specialist. 

Prior to that, Keeler-Johnson was an assistant women’s basketball coach at Minnesota State University Moorhead for three seasons. In her final season at MSUM she helped the Dragons to 21 wins, the NSIC North Division title and their 16th straight winning season. Keeler-Johnson officially begins her duties at VCSU on Aug. 21.

“I want to thank Valley City State University and Jill DeVries for this opportunity,” said Keeler-Johnson. “Coach DeVries has established a rich culture in the VCSU women’s basketball program, and I look forward to building upon it.”

Keeler-Johnson played collegiate basketball for four seasons, including two at South Dakota State University and two at the University of Sioux Falls. 

She graduated from University of Sioux Falls with a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education (2013) and earned a Master of Educational Leadership from MSUM (2016). Keeler-Johnson and her wife, Heather, have two sons: DJ (11) and Elliott (1). 

Valley City State University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and a conference member of the North Star Athletic Association. VCSU sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports including basketball, baseball, football, volleyball, softball, track & field, cross country and golf.