Johnson begins his fifth season as a member of the Gannon coaching staff, serving as the program’s running backs coach.
His work with Gannon running backs helped the program finish third among PSAC teams and 35th nationally in rushing yards per game (178.91) in 2009. Tailback Jon Richardson completed a stellar career with his third all-conference selection. He was also selected to play in the Cactus Bowl, the NCAA Division II All-Star Game.
Johnson tutored Tyler Batts last season. The first-year starter finished eighth among PSAC players in rushing yards per game (69.4) and played in the FCS Senior Scout Bowl. He was one of two Golden Knights who were the only non-NCAA Division I-AA players on the North Team and one of only five NCAA Division II players invited to play on either team. The remainder of both rosters was filled with NCAA Division I-AA players.
The Chicago, Ill., native has a multi-faceted playing and coaching background. Most recently, Johnson was a player while also serving as the receivers coach for the Erie Freeze of the American Indoor Football League (AIFL) in 2006 and 2007. He served in the same player-coach dual capacity for the Football League of Europe from 1994-96. Other coaching stints included stops at Orr High School (1997-2000) and Dana College (1993-94), serving as the wide receivers coach for both schools. In addition to football, he currently is an assistant coach for the Conneaut Lake High School basketball program.
Johnson was a standout wide receiver and return specialist for Dana (Neb.) College during his playing days, being named to back-to-back All-America teams as a return specialist. He was a two-time all-district honoree as a return specialist and earned a spot on the all-conference squad as a receiver.
Following his collegiate days, Johnson was part of three professional championships. In 1996, he played with Kurt Warner for the AFL Iowa Barnstormers. He also played for the Indoor Football League (IFL) Gold Cup Champion Green Bay Bombers in 1999 and was part of back-to-back championships with the National Indoor Football League’s (NIFL) Ohio Valley Greyhounds in 2002-03. Johnson was an all-league receiver for the IFL’s Erie Invaders in 2000 and later returned to play for the Erie Freeze from 2005-07 when the franchise moved to the AIFL. He also signed with the Hamilton Ti-Cats (1995) and Toronto Argos (2000) of the Canadian Football League (CFL) during his playing career.
Johnson earned his bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from Dana College in 1996 with a minor in Sociology. He currently works as a case manager at Stairways Behavioral Health. He and his wife, Nicole, reside in Erie.
Personal Data
Born: July 5, 1971
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
College Education: Dana (Neb.) College ‘96
Wife: Nicole
