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 | |
| Awards | |
| 2x National Champion (2014, 2024) | |
Larry A. Johnson (born around 1952) is a well-known American football coach. He currently works as the associate head coach and defensive line coach for the Ohio State Buckeyes team. Before joining Ohio State, he was an assistant football coach at Penn State from 1996 to 2013. Johnson also coached high school football in the Washington, D.C. area for many years. He is the father of two former football players, Larry Johnson and Tony Johnson.
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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 was recognized as an NAIA All-American, which means he was one of the best college players in the country.
Coaching High School Teams
Johnson became a very successful high school football coach in Maryland. He won the "coach of the year" award six times! He helped build one of the best football programs in Maryland's public schools.
From 1977 to 1991, Johnson coached at Maurice J. McDonough High School in Pomfret, Maryland. His teams were often ranked among the top in 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 also won three state championships in 1983, 1985, and 1990. His total record as a head coach was 139 wins and 36 losses.
From 1992 to 1993, Johnson coached 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
Coaching at Penn State
Larry Johnson was the defensive line coach at Penn State from 2000 to 2013. Before that, from 1996 to 1999, he coached the defensive ends and special teams for the Nittany Lions. During his time at Penn State, Johnson became known for being excellent at finding and recruiting top young football players, especially from the mid-Atlantic states.
He played a big part in helping five players become first-team All-Americans. These players included Devon Still, Tamba Hali, Michael Haynes, Jimmy Kennedy, and Courtney Brown. Many of these players went on to be drafted early in the NFL draft.
In January 2009, Johnson was offered a job as the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Illinois. However, he decided to stay at Penn State. Later, in 2011, he was named a co-defensive coordinator. When a new head coach, Bill O'Brien, arrived in 2012, Johnson was kept on the coaching staff. On January 1, 2014, Johnson became the interim head coach after O'Brien left for the NFL.
Coaching at Ohio State
After 18 years at Penn State, Johnson moved to Ohio State in 2014. He became an assistant head coach and defensive line coach for the Buckeyes. At Ohio State, Johnson is famous for helping talented defensive linemen get ready for the NFL.
He has coached many players who later became successful in the NFL, such as Joey Bosa, Nick Bosa, and Chase Young. All three of these players won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award in their first NFL seasons. Johnson also helped develop other great defensive linemen like Sam Hubbard, Dre'Mont Jones, Zach Harrison, Tyquan Lewis, Tommy Togiai, Jonathon Cooper, and Tyreke Smith.
In 2020, Johnson even stepped in as the acting head coach for Ohio State's game against Michigan State. This happened because head coach Ryan Day was unable to coach due to COVID-19.
Family Life
Larry Johnson has two sons who also played football. His son, Larry, was a running back at Penn State and played for nine seasons in the NFL. His other son, Tony, was a wide receiver at Penn State in the early 2000s.
