Johnson begins his first-ever coaching gig after playing professionally for 12 years in the NBA for the Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers before playing overseas in Europe, Australia and Asia. Johnson played college basketball at Loyola Marymount and UC Santa Barbara from 2007 to 2012.
The move to hire a general manager is one many programs have adopted with the move to revenue sharing and NIL. Johnson will take on, “Responsibilities in team management and player development, Johnson’s arrival at WSU marks his coaching debut,” according to a release.
Riley and Johnson have known each other for some time, with the two playing on the same club basketball team in Southern California.
“It’s a true honor to step in as General Manager, and I’m grateful for the opportunity. Reuniting with Dave, a childhood friend and teammate, makes this experience even more special to start a new beginning here at Wazzu. I look forward to contributing to our roster decisions and supporting the continued development of our student-athletes here on and off the court,” Johnson said.
The Cougars finished 19-15 in their first season under David Riley, going 8-10 in the WCC and being eliminated in the quarterfinals of the WCC Tournament. Riley lost the majority of his roster to the transfer portal and has recruited eight new players to the Palouse for the 2025-26 season, and now will have Johnson on his staff to compete for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
“We’ve been friends since we played AAU together growing up. Orlando brings invaluable experience from the professional level and global basketball scene to our player development and Cougar program,” Riley said.
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