A former member of the UTSA Spirit program as a student who served as the mascot, Rowdy the Roadrunner, Ashley Johnson was hired as UTSA’s Cheer Coordinator in 2022.
Johnson took over as the interim director of UTSA’s spirit program in March 2022 and was moved into the official role that May. She served as the volunteer cheer coach from 2020 until taking over the interim cheer coordinator role in March.
She coordinates all UTSA’s spirit program needs, including managing the cheerleading and mascot programs.
Johnson also served as a teacher and coach at Alamo Heights Independent School District from 2013-22, where she managed over 60 athletes and mascots. She was named the Texas Girls Coaches Association Coach of the Year for 2019-20, also earning UIL and NFHS Spirit Coach of the Year honors in 2019-20.
While serving as the volunteer assistant cheer coach in 2020-21, UTSA won the national championship in the Small Coed Open virtual division. Most recently she has led the All-Girl program back to the Advanced D1A division, placing fourth in 2024. Competing Game Day in D1A for the first time ever — collaborating with UTSA Music Program, Mariachi Director Michael Acevedo and Mariachis — placing third in their first appearance in this division, In 2025, the UTSA Small Coed placed second behind Mississippi State and Rowdy placed fifth.
During her time directing Alamo Heights, she helped lead the squad to a top-10 finish at nationals for nine consecutive years, with the team medaling for six consecutive years at the UIL State Cheer Championship. She choreographed multiple top 10 finishes at the UIL State Cheer Championships in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, including three first-place finishes.
She was a member of the National Cheerleaders Association as an instructor and staff member from 2005-2021, and currently is serving as a college and high school judge.
Johnson is a graduate of UTSA with a degree in kinesiology.