Early Life and Education
Johnson earned his Bachelor of Science in physical education from Western Carolina University in 1979, where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order. He did not play college football. He also earned a Master of Science in health and physical education from Appalachian State University in 1982.
Johnson was initially an assistant football coach at Avery County High School in Newland, North Carolina before starting his college career at Georgia Southern University in 1983, where he served as offensive coordinator for consecutive NCAA Division I-AA National Football Championships teams in 1985 and 1986. From 1983-1986 they would win 40 games and score 619 points in 15 games in 1986. Those teams were led by QB Tracy Ham who would go on to be a successful QB in the Canadian Football League.
He then spent eight seasons as offensive coordinator at the University of Hawaii at Manoa from 1987 to 1994. Their offense averaged 372 points scored per season during his 8 years there and won 54 games. While at Hawaii he would coach future collegiate head coach Ken Niumatalolo. In 1992 they would finish with their best record in school history at 11-2, including a win in the Holiday Bowl over the University of Illinois. They would also win the Western Athletic Conference title that season.
In 1995 and 1996, he served as the offensive coordinator at the United States Naval Academy and brought his option offense with him. In 1996, Navy recorded its first winning season in 14 years, going 9–3 with a victory in the Aloha Bowl. Their 9-3 record was the best since 1978 and their 392 points scored were the most in school history up to that point.
Johnson began his head coaching career by returning to Georgia Southern, which he led from 1997 through 2001. During his tenure, the Eagles captured the Division I-AA National Championship twice more in 1999 and 2000, and finished as runners-up in 1998. During his tenure as HC they finished with a record of 62-10 (86.1% winning rate). He was also instrumental in developing RB Adrian Peterson who would go on to be drafted by the Chicago Bears.
Johnson is one of only four coaches to record 50 wins in their first four seasons as head coach at the Division I level.
Read more about this topic: Paul Johnson (American Football Coach)
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