John Johnson

John Johnson enters his first season with UNM as Running Backs coach, and he came to the Lobos after a three-year stint with Sam Houston State, including one season as Assistant Head Coach.  John previously worked with Coach Eck at South Dakota State.

PREVIOUS COACHING STOPS

SAM HOUSTON STATE (2022-24): Johnson was with the Sam Houston State Bearkats for three seasons as Running Backs Coach, and he also served as Assistant Head Coach his final season, helping the Bearkats in their transition from the FCS to the FBS, culminating in winning the 2024 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.

In his final season with SHSU, the Bearkats rushed for 2,337 yards, averaging 179.8 per game with 21 touchdowns.  Jay Ducker led the was with 745 yards and rookie DJ McKinney was named the Conference USA Freshman of the Year after rushing for 481 yards and three touchdowns and Ducker was named Honorable Mention All-CUSA.

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (2020-21): The second of two stints at South Dakota State, serving as coach of the running backs.  In the 2020 (played in spring of 2021) and in 2021.  The Jackrabbits advanced to the FBS Championship game in the spring of 2021 and made it to the semifinals of the 2021 season.

Johnson coached Isaiah Strong to back-to-back FCS All-America honors including 2021 where Strong rushed for 1,686 yards and 18 touchdowns. Davis got his start under Johnson’s tutelage rushing for 818 yards and 10 TDs as a freshman.  By the time he was a senior, he was a First Team All-Missouri Valley selection as SDSU won the 2023 FCS Championship, and he was drafted by the New York Jets in the 2024 NFL Draft in the fifth round.

ATLANTA LEGENDS (2019): Johnson left the college ranks to move into the professional ranks, coaching running backs for the Atlanta Legends of the Alliance of American Football where he served under offensive coordinator Kevin Zampese.

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (2016-17): Worked at South Dakota State coaching the running backs in his first sting with the Jackrabbits, making the FCS Playoffs both seasons.  In 2017, SDSU made it to the FCS Semifinals for the first time in program history.  He coached Brady Mengarello who was named All-Missouri Valley for a second straight year, rushing for 849 yards as Johnson had four players go over 1,000 all-purpose yards.  Another running back, Mikey Daniels, rushed for 11 touchdowns on the season.

In his first year in 2016, Mengarello was named Second Team All-Missouri Valley with nearly 1,100 all-purpose yards as SDSU led the Missouri Valley Football Conference in scoring and total offense.

MISSOURI SOUTHERN (2015): Johnson spent one season as running backs coach with Missouri Southern, where he also coached the punt team unit for the Lions.  The Lions were led by running back Will Gregory who led the team with 775 yards rushing and six touchdowns.  He also added 16 receptions for 122 yards.

TULSA (2014): Johnson coached the 2014 season with the Tulsa Golden Hurricane as the program transitioned to the American Football Conference.  There, Johnson coached Zack Langer who was second in the AAC in rushing yards per game and who totaled 801 yards to lead Tulsa.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (NFL) (2014): Johnson served a summer coaching internship with the Kansas City Chiefs, learning under head coach Andy Reid and running backs coach Eric Bieniemy.  In the summer internship he worked with running backs Jamaal Charles and Charcandrick West among others.

OKLAHOMA BAPTIST (2013): Johnson spent one full season with Oklahoma Baptist coaching receivers and serving as special teams coordinator.

OUACHITA BAPTIST (2009-12): Got his collegiate coaching start at Ouchita Baptist where after playing his final season there, serving as a running backs coach for three years and wide receivers coach for one.  In all four seasons he oversaw strength and conditioning for the team.

PLAYING CAREER – OKLAHOMA STATE (2005-07); OUACHITA BAPTIST (2008): Played three seasons in Stillwater as a fullback, playing in three bowl games before finishing his career at Ouachita Baptist.