Larry Johnson (American football coach) facts for kids
Johnson in 2014
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| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Associate head coach / Defensive line coach |
| Team | Ohio State |
| Conference | Big Ten |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | c. 1952 (age 72–73) Williamston, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1970–1973 | Elizabeth City State |
| Position(s) | Linebacker |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1974 | Lackey HS (MD) (Assistant) |
| 1975–1991 | Maurice J. McDonough HS (MD) |
| 1992–1993 | T. C. Williams HS (VA) |
| 1996–1999 | Penn State (DE/ST) |
| 2000–2013 | Penn State (DL) |
| 2014–present | Ohio State (DL/AHC) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 2x National Champion (2014, 2024) | |
Larry A. Johnson, born around 1952, is a well-known American football coach. He is currently the defensive line and associate head coach for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team. Before joining Ohio State, he coached at Pennsylvania State University from 1996 to 2013. Johnson also coached high school football in the Washington, D.C. area from 1983 to 1993. He is the father of two former college football players: Larry Johnson, a former National Football League running back, and Tony Johnson, a former Penn State wide receiver.
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Playing Football in College
Larry Johnson grew up in Williamston, North Carolina. He was a fantastic linebacker at Elizabeth City State University. In 1973, he earned NAIA All-America honors. This means he was recognized as one of the best college players in the country. While at Elizabeth City State, Johnson also became a member of the Iota Phi Theta fraternity.
Coaching High School Teams
Larry Johnson was a very successful high school football coach in Maryland. He won "coach-of-the-year" six times! He built one of the best football programs in Maryland's public school system.
Success at Maurice J. McDonough High School
From 1977 to 1991, Johnson's teams at Maurice J. McDonough High School in Pomfret, Maryland were always among the top teams. They were known throughout the Washington Metropolitan Area. In his last eight years there, his teams had an amazing record of 82 wins and only 10 losses. They made it to the state playoffs eight times in a row. They played in 10 championship games, winning 8 of them. His teams also won three Division 3A state championships in 1983, 1985, and 1990. His total record as a head coach at the high school level was 139 wins and 36 losses.
Coaching at T. C. Williams High School
From 1992 to 1993, Johnson was the head coach at T. C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia. His brother, AK Johnson, who was the school's athletic director, hired him for this role.
Coaching College Teams
Larry Johnson has had a long and successful career coaching college football. He is known for helping young players become top athletes.
Time at Penn State University
Johnson coached the defensive line at Penn State from 2000 to 2013. Before that, from 1996 to 1999, he coached the defensive ends and special teams. During his time at Penn State, Johnson became known as a top recruiter. He was great at finding and bringing talented players to the team, especially from the mid-Atlantic states.
He played a big part in developing five players who became first-team All-Americans. These players include Devon Still, and future NFL first-round draft picks like Tamba Hali, Michael Haynes, and Jimmy Kennedy. He also helped develop Courtney Brown, who was the very first player chosen in the NFL draft one year.
In January 2009, Johnson was offered a job as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Illinois. However, he decided to stay at Penn State. On November 10, 2011, he was named co-defensive coordinator with Ron Vanderlinden. When new head coach Bill O'Brien arrived on January 7, 2012, Johnson was kept on the coaching staff. On January 1, 2014, Johnson became the interim head coach after Coach O'Brien left for the NFL.
Moving to Ohio State University
After 18 years at Penn State, Johnson left after the 2013 season. He was hired by Ohio State to be an assistant head coach and defensive line coach. At Ohio State, Johnson is famous for helping many highly-rated players get ready for the NFL. Some of these players include Joey Bosa, Nick Bosa, and Chase Young. All three of these players later won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award in their first seasons in the NFL.
Johnson is also praised for helping other talented defensive linemen develop their skills. These players include Sam Hubbard, Dre'Mont Jones, Zach Harrison, Tyquan Lewis, Tommy Togiai, Jonathon Cooper, and Tyreke Smith.
In 2020, Johnson was Ohio State's acting head coach for the game against Michigan State. This happened because head coach Ryan Day had tested positive for COVID-19.
Family Life
Larry Johnson has two sons. His son Larry played running back at Penn State and then for nine seasons in the NFL. His other son, Tony, was a wide receiver at Penn State in the early 2000s.
