University of Memphis Athletics
Johnson Named to Memphis Coaching Staff
Dec 09, 2015 | Football
Coaching addition brings Johnson up from New Orleans
MEMPHIS – David Johnson, the tight ends and running backs coach at Tulane University the past four seasons, has been hired by new Memphis football coach Mike Norvell, it was announced, Tuesday. Johnson will be the third hire for Norvell's coaching staff, joining current interim head coach Darrell Dickey and defensive coach Dan Lanning.
"David Johnson is deeply tied to Southern Louisiana and the state of Mississippi," Norvell said. "He is a legendary high school coach in New Orleans and also brings a wealth of collegiate coaching experience. He coached multiple positions at Millsaps College and, more recently, at Tulane."
Johnson has spent the past four seasons at Tulane, helping guide then-freshman tight end Charles Jones and freshman running back Sherman Badie to Freshman All-America honors.
Johnson came to Tulane after a three-year tenure as the head coach/offensive coordinator and receivers coach at St. Augustine High School in New Orleans. There, he coached the Purple Knights from 2009-11, leading the team to a co-district title in 2010 and a district championship in 2011. He was named the 2011 District 10-4A Coach of the Year in his final season at St. Augustine.
Prior to his high school coaching stint, Johnson served as the wide receivers/tight ends/special teams (returns) coach and recruiting coordinator for Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss. He helped the Majors to a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference title in 2006 and tied for the championship in 2008. Millsaps posted a 20-1 record in conference play from 2006-08 and the 2008 team ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation.
At Millsaps, fifteen of Johnson's receivers earned all-conference honors over a four-year period, including the program's all-time leader for receptions and touchdowns scored, Eric McCarty. Fellow Johnson-coached receivers include Chris Jackson, who went on to win the Grey Cup with the Calgary Stampede and Milton Collins, who also played for Calgary in the CFL.
Before coaching at Millsaps, Johnson completed his first stint at St. Augustine High School as the passing coordinator and wide receiver/tight ends coach in 2005.
St. Augustine was Johnson's third high school coaching stop. He began his coaching career at his alma mater, John F. Kennedy High School, in 1997. He also coached at O. Perry Walker from 2000-2005, serving as the offensive coordinator and wide receivers/tight ends coach. He helped the team to the 2002 state finals, three consecutive district championships (2002-04) and coached seven receivers to 1,000-yard seasons. One of his pupils at O. Perry Walker was future LSU Tiger and San Diego Charger receiver Craig Davis. Under Johnson's guidance, a total of 18 players went on to play Division I football, including 11 from the class of 2002.
A graduate of Nicholls State University, Johnson was an honorable mention All-Southland honoree at wide receiver and punt returner in 1993 and finished the '93 campaign ranked fifth all-time in yards per catch. He was an honorable mention all-conference receiver in 1992 as well. He graduated in 1995 with a bachelor's degree in general education, and spent the 1999 season playing receiver for the New Orleans Thunder in the Regional Football League.
He and his wife, Akeia, have three children: Jermaine, De'Von and Karaaz.
"David Johnson is deeply tied to Southern Louisiana and the state of Mississippi," Norvell said. "He is a legendary high school coach in New Orleans and also brings a wealth of collegiate coaching experience. He coached multiple positions at Millsaps College and, more recently, at Tulane."
Johnson has spent the past four seasons at Tulane, helping guide then-freshman tight end Charles Jones and freshman running back Sherman Badie to Freshman All-America honors.
Johnson came to Tulane after a three-year tenure as the head coach/offensive coordinator and receivers coach at St. Augustine High School in New Orleans. There, he coached the Purple Knights from 2009-11, leading the team to a co-district title in 2010 and a district championship in 2011. He was named the 2011 District 10-4A Coach of the Year in his final season at St. Augustine.
Prior to his high school coaching stint, Johnson served as the wide receivers/tight ends/special teams (returns) coach and recruiting coordinator for Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss. He helped the Majors to a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference title in 2006 and tied for the championship in 2008. Millsaps posted a 20-1 record in conference play from 2006-08 and the 2008 team ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation.
At Millsaps, fifteen of Johnson's receivers earned all-conference honors over a four-year period, including the program's all-time leader for receptions and touchdowns scored, Eric McCarty. Fellow Johnson-coached receivers include Chris Jackson, who went on to win the Grey Cup with the Calgary Stampede and Milton Collins, who also played for Calgary in the CFL.
Before coaching at Millsaps, Johnson completed his first stint at St. Augustine High School as the passing coordinator and wide receiver/tight ends coach in 2005.
St. Augustine was Johnson's third high school coaching stop. He began his coaching career at his alma mater, John F. Kennedy High School, in 1997. He also coached at O. Perry Walker from 2000-2005, serving as the offensive coordinator and wide receivers/tight ends coach. He helped the team to the 2002 state finals, three consecutive district championships (2002-04) and coached seven receivers to 1,000-yard seasons. One of his pupils at O. Perry Walker was future LSU Tiger and San Diego Charger receiver Craig Davis. Under Johnson's guidance, a total of 18 players went on to play Division I football, including 11 from the class of 2002.
A graduate of Nicholls State University, Johnson was an honorable mention All-Southland honoree at wide receiver and punt returner in 1993 and finished the '93 campaign ranked fifth all-time in yards per catch. He was an honorable mention all-conference receiver in 1992 as well. He graduated in 1995 with a bachelor's degree in general education, and spent the 1999 season playing receiver for the New Orleans Thunder in the Regional Football League.
He and his wife, Akeia, have three children: Jermaine, De'Von and Karaaz.
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