Johnson wrapped up his time with the Badgers at the conclusion of the 2022 season, where he was the running backs coach for one season.
The move is a homecoming for Johnson, who has contributed to highly-successful Badgers teams both as a player and coach. He returns to his alma mater after serving as head coach at East Central University since 2018. He also served as the NCAA Division II school's interim athletics director from July of 2021 to February of 2022.
As head coach, Johnson led East Central to a 7-4 record in 2021 after guiding the Tigers to a 2-0 mark in a 2020 season that was cut short due to restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. That shortened campaign included a signature road win over No. 25-ranked Tarleton State of the Football Championship Subdivision.
Johnson was part of a pair of Big Ten championship and Rose Bowl teams as a player and starred at center for the Badgers for three seasons from 2000 to 2002. He twice earned all-conference honorable mention before being named second-team All-Big Ten as a senior. He also was named a finalist for the Rimington Trophy — presented to the nation's top center — and earned third-team All-America laurels as a senior in 2002.
He returned to Madison as a graduate assistant for the 2016 and 2017 seasons, working directly with UW's offensive line. He helped the Badgers post a 24-4 record and score back-to-back New Year's Six wins — in the Cotton and Orange bowls — over his two years on staff.
During that time, Johnson assisted in the development of five offensive linemen who would go on to earn first-team All-America honors and play in the NFL. That includes 2016 consensus first-team All-American and first-round NFL draft pick Ryan Ramczyk at tackle and 2019 unanimous first-team All-American and Rimington Trophy winner Tyler Biadasz at center. The list also features 2018 Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year Michael Deiter, two-time first-team All-America selection Beau Benzschawel and David Edwards, who won a Super Bowl ring as a starter for the Los Angeles Rams this past season.
Johnson's coaching career, which included experience at the high school level and as offensive coordinator at NCAA Division III St. Norbert College prior to his time as a grad assistant at UW, came on the heels of a seven-year playing career in the NFL. Selected by Dallas in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft, Johnson went on to play four seasons at center for the Cowboys and helped the franchise to a pair of playoff appearances. He started at center for Arizona in 2007 and finished his career with stops in Miami and New England.
A native of Brussels, Wisconsin, Johnson attended Southern Door High School. He and his wife, Brandy, are parents of a son, Cyrus, and three daughters, Skyler, Makayla and Chloe.
Johnson's Coaching Career
2013: Offensive Coordinator, Southern Door (Wis.) High School
2014: Offensive Line, St. Norbert College
2015: Offensive Coordinator, St. Norbert College
2016-17: Graduate Assistant, Wisconsin
2018-21: Head Coach, East Central University
2022-present: Running Backs, Wisconsin
