Brian Johnson Named New Orleans Track and Field and Cross Country Coach

NEW ORLEANS - Brian Johnson, an Olympian and a four-time national champion in the long jump, has been named head track and field and cross country coach at the University of New Orleans.
 
A graduate of Southern University in Baton Rouge, Johnson was a member of the 2008 United States Olympic Track and Field Team in Beijing, China.
 
"We are excited to welcome Brian Johnson to our Privateer Athletics family," said director of athletics Derek Morel. "His head coaching experience, personal competition success and his familiarity with recruiting in our area will translate to a vibrant tenure as our head men's and women's track and field/cross country coach."
 
The Iowa, Louisiana native comes to the Lakefront from Alcorn State where he served in the same capacity at the Lorman, Mississippi school for nearly three years.
 
"I'm excited to have the opportunity as head coach at the University of New Orleans," said Johnson. "Thank you to Derek Morel and Kirsten Elleby (Associate AD for Student-Athlete Enrichment/Senior Woman Administrator) for their leadership and for trusting me to take on this role."
 
As a student-athlete, Johnson became only the third Southern athlete to win an indoor national NCAA title when he won the long jump crown in 2003. From 2004 to 2010, he served as assistant track and field coach at his alma mater while competing as one of the world's best long jumpers.
 
Johnson leaped the U. S. Indoor Long Jump title in 2005 and followed up with the outdoor and indoor crowns in 2005 and 2006.
 
In 2008, he finished second at the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, qualifying for the team.
 
From 2010 to 2014, Johnson served as head track and field coach at Southern in Baton Rouge. After one year as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Georgia, he became the head coach at Alcorn State in 2015.
 
"I'd like to thank Alcorn State. They gave me an opportunity and I'll always be so grateful to have worked for them. I look forward to hitting the ground running, building winning teams in the classroom and on the track. I can't wait to start leading this great program."
 
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