North Side High School has selected its new football head coach, elevating offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Jr., to the job.
Johnson's promotion was approved February 8 by the Fort Wayne Community Schools board. He replaces Mike Brevard, who is now on Kevin Donley's coaching staff at the University of Saint Francis.
"It's such a great opportunity, " Johnson tells ParkviewSportsMedicine.com. "Being a first-year guy, normally, it's a total redo. But that's not the case here. It's more of a reload situation."
Johnson spent the past season as the play-caller for the Legends, who broke eleven offensive school records this season. North Side finished 5-6, the best finish in seven years.
"What helped me the most was the relationships," he adds. "It starts with the kids and then their parents, the administrations, the teachers here. I think that just translates to the field and the success of the program."
Before his stint as offensive coordinator at North Side, Johnson was offensive coordinator at Wayne; and was running backs coach at Bishop Luers before that.
"Coaching the last 7 years in the SAC, this is definitely one of the top two conferences in the state . It's very ocmpetiting I'm just happy to be a part of it, and I want to create some new traditions."
He played high school football at Wayne, graduating in 2009, and played college football at Anderson University.
North Side is one of 26 high schools that partner with Parkview Sports Medicine for athletic training, nutrition, sports performance, athletic rehab and other sports medicine services for Legend student-athletes. Learn more at www.parkviewsportsmedicine.com.