Tragedy on Mother’s Day: Remembering Coach Shannon Johnson
It is with deep sorrow and heavy hearts that the Adrenaline Volleyball Club family announces the sudden and tragic passing of Coach Shannon Johnson, who died in a car accident on Mother’s Day, May 11, 2025. The devastating accident, which also involved a young man named Kai Payne, has shaken the community of Chattanooga, Tennessee, leaving many in grief and disbelief.
Coach Shannon Johnson was far more than just a volleyball coach. She was a mentor, a leader, a friend, and a vibrant spirit whose presence lit up every room she entered and every court she stood upon. Her sudden passing has left an irreplaceable void, not only in the hearts of her family and friends but also within the extended volleyball family she nurtured with care, dedication, and passion.
Shannon dedicated countless hours to the development and empowerment of young athletes at Adrenaline Volleyball Club. Her coaching style blended discipline with compassion, drive with encouragement, and her players not only grew as athletes under her guidance but also as confident, determined young individuals. Many of her players and colleagues remember her as someone who always believed in the potential of others—even when they couldn’t see it themselves.
Her loss is deeply felt within the Chattanooga community, where Shannon was known not just as a coach, but as a role model, a mother, and a community advocate. Whether she was volunteering at local schools, cheering in the stands at her children’s events, or offering a listening ear to a player in need, Shannon lived a life of service and love.
The details surrounding the accident are still being investigated, but the heartbreak is immediate and raw. Kai Payne, also involved in the accident, has been identified as a young driver whose fate is tied tragically to this sorrowful event. Though information on Kai is still limited, the community’s thoughts and prayers extend to all families affected by this terrible incident.
On what was meant to be a day of celebration and love—Mother’s Day—tragedy instead struck, reminding us all of the fragility of life. Coach Shannon Johnson leaves behind a legacy of strength, kindness, and unwavering support for the youth she so dearly loved. Her impact will ripple through the lives she touched for generations to come.
Adrenaline Volleyball Club has released a statement expressing their grief and support for the Johnson family. Plans are underway to honor her memory through a memorial service and scholarship fund in her name, ensuring that her legacy lives on through the athletes and students she championed.
In this time of unimaginable loss, the Chattanooga community is uniting to support the Johnson family, and to remember the beautiful, strong soul that was Shannon Johnson. She will be missed, but never forgotten.
Rest in Peace, Coach Shannon.
Your light, your strength, and your love will live on in every serve, every spike, and every young life you helped shape.
