Men’s Basketball: Marlin Tabs Johnson As Assistant Coach

First-year Louisiana head coach Bob Marlin announced an addition to his coaching staff for the 2010-11 season on Tuesday.

Kevin Johnson, a 14-year veteran of collegiate coaching, joins the Cajuns’ staff after spending the previous three seasons at Nicholls State. Before coaching in Thibodeaux, Johnson spent two seasons as an assistant at Louisiana Tech and was the head coach at Centenary from 1999-2005. Johnson’s is pending approval by the University of Louisiana System’s Board of Supervisors.

"We are excited to add Kevin to the Ragin’ Cajuns’ staff," Marlin said. "With his background, experience and success in the state of Louisiana, he will be a solid addition to our program. He’s an outstanding teacher and has done a good job wherever he’s been."

In his first two seasons at Nicholls State, Johnson helped the Colonels to a 30- 32 record, including a 20-11 mark and a 14-2 Southland Conference record in 2008-09. In 2008-09, the Colonels reached the 20-win mark for the first time since 1994-95 and just the second time since Nicholls State moved to Division I in 1980. His main duties included overseeing the Colonels’ on-court defense and organizing recruiting efforts.

As the architect of Nicholls State’s defense, Johnson oversaw a 2008-09 defensive effort that led the Southland Conference in rebounding defense (holding teams to 29.5 RPG) and finishing second in steals (8.7 SPG) and scoring defense (allowing just 60.2 points/game).

In 2008-09, he helped the Colonel defense develop into one of the strongest units in the nation, as Nicholls State finished 17th among NCAA Division I teams in steals and 18th in scoring defense.

In his time at Louisiana Tech, Johnson helped guide the Bulldogs to a 20-13 mark and an 11-5 conference ledger during the 2005-06 season and an appearance in the postseason NIT Tournament.

Before taking the job at Louisiana Tech, Johnson spent eight seasons at Centenary College, the first two as an assistant under Billy Kennedy, the next six as head coach.

In those six years as head coach, Johnson compiled a 50-17 record at home. In 2003-04, Johnson guided the Gents to a perfect 13-0 mark at home and a second-place finish in the Mid-Continent Conference. In 2000-01, Ronnie McCallum led the nation in scoring, averaging 29.1 points per game.

Prior to his time in Shreveport, Johnson made coaching pit stops at UTPA (1996-97) and Northwestern State (1989-90).

Johnson has coaching experience in the Cajundome, as he was a visitor with UTPA (2/15/97), Centenary (2/7/02) and Louisiana Tech (12/2/06).

His familiarity with the Cajundome goes beyond his coaching tenure. As a senior, he led UTPA to a 92-80 win over then-USL on Feb. 14, 1988. Johnson scored 25 points on 9-of-9 shooting, including 5-of-5 from beyond the arc, and grabbed seven rebounds in 36 minutes.

As a student-athlete at Texas-Pan American under head coach Lon Kruger, Johnson compiled 1,156 career points, which still ranks 13th all-time in the Broncos’ record books. His senior campaign was his most notable statistical season as Johnson averaged 16.1 points per game, had a field-goal percentage of .492 and a stellar .574 conversion rate from three-point range.

His three-point field-goal percentage led the American South Conference and ranked seventh in the country. Johnson was named to the All-American South First Team in 1988 for his efforts.

Following his distinguished playing career at Texas-Pan American, Johnson headed overseas to England where he played for the Liecester Riders. He spent one season with the Riders before accepting an assistant coaching position at Northwestern State in 1989.

In 1990, Johnson returned to England to become the head coach and play for the Oldham Celtics. In 1992, he led the Celtics to a league championship with a 25-1 record. Johnson also averaged 33.0 points per game in Oldham’s championship run and was nominated for coach of the year.

In 1993, Johnson returned to the States to become an assistant coach at Bryan High School in Bryan, Texas and rejoined the college ranks in 1996 as an assistant at Texas-Pan American.

Johnson is a native of Morgan City, La., and prepped at Morgan City High School. His brother, Dave III, was an All-American at Syracuse and a first-round NBA draft pick of the Portland Trailblazers in 1992.