Cherry Hill native Stacie Johnson earns front office position in XFL with D.C. Defenders

Stacie Johnson plans to catch up on sleep in the next couple of weeks.

Until then, there’s too much work to do for the Cherry Hill native.

That’s life when you’re the Director of Team Operations for the D.C. Defenders of the XFL.

The North Division champion Defenders (9-1) will play the South Division titlist Arlington Renegades (4-6) in the league’s championship game on Saturday in San Antonio. Kickoff is 8 p.m. and the game is televised on ABC and ESPN+.

“It’s been crazy,” Johnson said about her first year on the job, which began when the league resumed play in January. “From training camp and Week 1 until now, playing in the championship game, it’s been a wild ride. I’ve had very little sleep lately, but it’s so worth it.”

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Johnson has plenty of work to do with the organization, saying, “Anything that doesn’t have Xs and Os falls on my plate.”

Johnson’s job description has her managing and coordinating logistics for all football-related activities and communicating all league-level information to the Defenders’ players and coaches.

“The biggest priority is the players, making sure they are set up for success,” Johnson said.

Climbing the ladder

In a male-dominated world of professional football, Johnson quickly found her footing with a front office position.

“It’s extremely important to help set the standard and show we’re supposed to be here,” Johnson said. “The XFL has been very progressive in giving women opportunities to do the job in powerful positions and succeed."

After graduating from Rutgers University-New Brunswick in 2013, Johnson has quickly worked her way up the ranks.

She was an intern and football operations assistant with the Philadelphia Eagles for two years and another year with the New York Jets.

Johnson worked with the Rutgers women’s basketball program, under the guidance of legendary coach C. Vivian Stringer.

“(Stringer) and Michelle Edwards really spearheaded my career by giving me the confidence to succeed in the sports industry,” said Johnson, who would later work with the RU football program under head coaches Greg Schiano and Kyle Flood.

In 2019, Johnson was the manager of operations and analytics with the Orlando Apollos in the Alliance of American Football before the league folded later that year.

Growing up in Cherry Hill

The foundation for Johnson’s work ethic was built during formative years, especially at Cherry Hill High School East where she graduated in 2009. She played volleyball and was a member of the swimming team.

Johnson became a leader on the volleyball team as a senior, but it wasn't easy.

“Freshman year, I didn’t want to continue playing because I wasn’t on varsity,”  Johnson said. “Coach (Scott) Mooney was the one that kept me involved. He said, ‘We are going to build you up to be a captain of this program before your graduate.' He always motivated me to be better.

“Scott Mooney and (Johnson Elementary School first-grade teacher) Dawn Slaton were two teachers that I learned so much from.”

Mooney said Johnson was someone who wasn't going to shy away from any challenge.

"She was a team captain for our program and that's something she earned with hard work and dedication," Mooney said. "With Stacie, you knew that putting the work in wasn't going to be a problem."

What’s next

Watch out Howie Roseman: Johnson might be coming for your job.

“I would love to be the general manager of an NFL team,” said Johnson, who grew up cheering for the Philadelphia Eagles and rattled off Donovan McNabb, Michael Vick and Jeremy Maclin as some of her favorite players. “Or an athletic director. It would be a great opportunity to lead an athletics program.”

And what advice would she give young women with big ambitions?

“There’s no job out there we can’t do,” she said. “Set your mind on your goals and not only meet them, but exceed them.”

Tom McGurk is a regional sports editor for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and Burlington County Times, covering South Jersey sports for over 30 years. If you have a sports story that needs to be told, contact him at (856) 486-2420 or email tmcgurk@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @McGurkSports. Help support local journalism with a digital subscription.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Cherry Hill's Stacie Johnson breaking barriers in pro football