Don Johnson

By the time Johnson graduated from Madison in 1970, he had lettered in football and track his last three years and was a two-year basketball letterwinner. His prowess on the gridiron gave him all-state honors as a senior. As a junior, Johnson gained honorable-mention recognition. He also helped set two relay records in track for the Bulldogs. Johnson also was a Legion Baseball player all four summers through high school. Academically, he was involved in student government and was a member of the Governor's Youth Council. As a junior, he was a Legion Boys State candidate. Johnson enrolled at SDSU and became a four-year starter as a defensive back for the Jackrabbits. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees in 1974 and '75 from SDSU. In 1975, Johnson became part of Augustana College's coaching staff, coaching the linebackers that year and the Vikes' defensive backs the next. He became Augustana's defensive coordinator-linebackers' coach (1977-78) and then offensive coordinator-quarterbacks coach (1979-80). Johnson went on to become Idaho State University's linebackers' coach in 1981, helping the school to an NCAA Div. IAA championship that season. The next season, he was ISU's running backs coach. From 1983-85, Johnson was The Citadel's offensive coordinator, guiding the team to school records in all passing categories. Johnson and his family moved to Scotland, N.C., in 1986. As Scotland High School's head football coach, his teams amassed a 37-24 record. From 1994 to 2002, Johnson was a part of the A.C. Reynolds school system. He was assistant football coach (1994-97) and assistant principal-athletic director (1996-2002). A.C. Reynolds earned a State 4A football championship in 1999 and girls' basketball championship the next year while Johnson was athletic director.