Director of Athletics
Sue Johnson

Sue Johnson enters her third year at the helm of the Gann Academy Athletic Department. Johnson brings a wealth of experience in competitive athletics to the post. Prior to taking over the Gann athletic program, Johnson coached Division I women's basketball at the college level for 20 years. Johnson began her coaching career as an assistant at her alma mater, Yale, from 1987-89 before becoming the recruiting coordinator at Princeton from 1989-1995. In the spring of 1995, Johnson headed north to become the top assistant on Cathy Inglese’s coaching staff at Boston College for two seasons.  She earned her first head coaching position in 1997 when she took over the reigns at the University of New Hampshire. Johnson led the Wildcats to the program's first ever post season berth in 1998, three appearances in the America East semi-finals and had two players receive the prestigious UNH Female Student-Athlete of the Year Award for their combined athletic and academic success. 

Johnson, a 1986 cum laude Yale graduate, enjoyed an impressive athletic career as an Eli by competing for the basketball, softball and lacrosse programs. Johnson made her mark on the basketball program at Yale earning First Team All-Ivy and Academic All American honors in consecutive seasons, an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and graduated as the program’s leading scorer. At the present time, she still holds nine university records and will be inducted into the Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in April of 2010. Johnson earned a MA in Counseling Services from Rider University in 1995.

Head Trainer/ Assistant Athletic Director
AJ Rourke

Andrea "AJ" Rourke enters her third year on the Gann Athletic Department staff. Rourke joined Athletic Director, Sue Johnson, in the summer of 2007, to lead the Athletic Department anew as the Head Athletic Trainer and added the Assistant Athletic Director responsibilities to her resume in the summer of 2008. Rourke, like Athletic Director Sue Johnson, also brings a wealth of experience in competitive athletics to the post. After graduating from Marietta College in 1993, with a BS in Sports Medicine and a NATA Certification, Rourke enjoyed athletic training posts with Auburn and Grafton High School, the Orleans Cardinals and Chatham Athletics of the acclaimed Cape Cod Baseball League and a ten year stint at UMASS- Boston. Rourke is also a professional photographer and serves as the Gann Athletic Department official photographer. Her action and team photos of Gann student-athletes can be accessed on her website at www.BeaconPhotography.photoreflect.com.