Curtis Johnson (American football coach)

Curtis Johnson Jr.
Sport(s) Football
Current position
Title Head coach
Team Tulane
Conference Conference USA
Record 0–0
Biographical details
Born November 5, 1961 (1961-11-05) (age 50)
Place of birth New Orleans, Louisiana
Alma mater University of Idaho
Playing career
1980–1983 Idaho
Position(s) Wide receiver
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1987–1988
1989–1993
1994
1995
1996–2005
2006–2011
2012–
Idaho (WR)
San Diego State (WR)
SMU (WR)
California (WR)
Miami (FL) (WR)
New Orleans Saints (WR)
Tulane
Head coaching record
Overall 0–0

Curtis Johnson Jr. (November 5, 1961) is an American college football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach at Tulane University, a position he assumed in December 2011 after six seasons coaching wide receivers for the New Orleans Saints.

Contents

Assisting coaching career

After graduating from the University of Idaho, Johnson first became a wide receivers coach at Lewiston High School in Lewiston, Idaho before taking his first college assistant job for Idaho in 1987.[1] In the series of assistant jobs that followed, Johnson developed a reputation as an outstanding recruiter as well as position coach. At San Diego State, he recruited future Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk (like him, a native New Orleanian),[2] as well as wide receiver Darnay Scott.[1] After San Diego State, Johnson spent single seasons at Southern Methodist University, and at the University of California (where he coached future All-American Bobby Shaw, among others), before taking a position at Miami in 1996.[3]

Miami

Johnson spent the next decade at Miami. As part of a staff that went to nine bowl games and won the 2002 National Championship, Johnson coached Andre Johnson, Santana Moss, and Reggie Wayne.[1] He was also credited with recruiting standout safety Ed Reed, another native New Orleanian.[4]

New Orleans Saints

Johnson was a member of Sean Payton's original Saints coaching staff. In his time there, he coached wide receivers Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem, and Lance Moore, among others. From 2006-11, his wideouts combined for 108 touchdown grabs and 35 performances with over 100 yards receiving.[1] He was part of the coaching staff for the team that won Super Bowl XLIV in the 2009 season.[4]

Head coaching career

Tulane

On December 5, 2011, Johnson was named the new head coach of the Tulane Green Wave football team, replacing outgoing coach Bob Toledo. Johnson said that he would finish the NFL season with the Saints, while simultaneously taking over the program at Tulane.[5]

Personal life

A New Orleans native, Johnson attended St. Charles High School. He was honored by his high school's community with an exhibit hosted by the St. Charles Museum and Historical Association and the River Road Historical Society in 2010[6] . After high school, at the University of Idaho, Johnson played college football, ran track and field, and graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Physical Educaton[7] . He and his wife Angel live in Harvey and have six children.[8] Johnson is a deacon at his church, and has travelled to schools and camps promoting academic success, hard work and faith[9] .

One of his sons, Curtis "Trey" Johnson III is a 2011 wide receiver for the University of Memphis[10].

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Curtis Johnson". neworleanssaints.com. 2011. http://www.neworleanssaints.com/team/coaches/curtis-johnson/172c89cf-af31-4f96-9cbf-82d8fdb3b73e. Retrieved 2011-12-05. 
  2. ^ Scott Miller, "Air of Aztec Ways: SDSU Targets Progress in Passing Game", Los Angeles Times, October 1, 2001. ("As the primary recruiter of Marshall Faulk, San Diego State receivers' coach Curtis Johnson is getting more national publicity than ever. When ABC television ran a halftime segment on Faulk a couple of weeks ago, they also interviewed Johnson. Like Faulk, Johnson has been on ESPN and in Sports Illustrated.")
  3. ^ "Player Bio: Curtis Johnson - HurricaneSports.com". Hurricane Sports Properties. http://hurricanesports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/johnson_curtis00.html. 
  4. ^ a b "Wearing NFL and college championship rings, Curtis Johnson says Tulane will play for trophies", Associated Press in The Washington Post, December 5, 2011.
  5. ^ Tammy Nunez (December 5, 2011). "Tulane Green Wave gives new football coach a warm welcome". Times-Picayune. http://www.nola.com/tulane/index.ssf/2011/12/tulane_green_wave_gives_new_fo.html. Retrieved 2011-12-05. 
  6. ^ "SAINTS’ COACH, CURTIS JOHNSON, TO BE HONORED WITH EXHIBIT". News. St. Charles Parish. http://www.stcharlesgov.net/index.aspx?recordid=967&page=26. Retrieved 15 December 2011. 
  7. ^ "Destrehan exhibit honors Saints coach". St. Charles Herald Guide. http://www.heraldguide.com/details_archive.php?id=6841. Retrieved 7 December 2011. 
  8. ^ Tammy Nunez (December 1, 2011). "New Orleans Saints assistant Curtis Johnson still in the running for Tulane head coaching job". Times-Picayune. http://www.nola.com/tulane/index.ssf/2011/12/saints_johnson_still_in_the_ru.html. Retrieved 2011-12-06. 
  9. ^ Massenburg, Susan. "New Orleans Saints assistant coach lives full life in Harvey". The Times-Picayune. http://www.nola.com/west-bank/index.ssf/2011/06/saints_assistant_coach_lives_f.html. Retrieved 15 December 2011. 
  10. ^ "Player Bio: Curtis Johnson". Memphis Tigers Official Athletic Site. http://www.gotigersgo.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/johnson_curtis00.html. Retrieved 7 December 2011. 

External links