Johnson Earns Contract Extension

Johnson Earns Contract Extension

8/28/2003

Johnson Earns Contract Extension

Vanderbilt officials have announced that Head Football Coach Bobby Johnson has earned a one year extension, through the 2007 season, under the terms of his current contract.

“We are excited to make known that Coach Johnson has earned this extension,” said Director of Athletics Todd Turner.  “We believe he is the right man to lead our program and are enthused about its direction and our future.”

Johnson arrived in December of 2001 and despite a 2-10 mark in his first year, virtually everyone noticed a team much improved over the previous season.  Five Commodores earned Southeastern Conference All-Freshman honors with Tailback Kwane Doster named the SEC Freshman of the Year.

“I appreciate the opportunity Vanderbilt has given me and my staff,” Johnson says.  “We are very comfortable here and look forward to a long and successful association,” 

The national media recognized Johnson’s arrival at Vanderbilt.  Numerous outlets, from the New York Times and Atlanta Journal Constitution to ESPN’s SportsCenterand College Football GameDay, featured Johnson’s approach to coaching last season. 

Johnson is a career winner, posting a 60-36 record in eight years as head coach at Furman.  Johnson led the Paladins to a runner-up finish in the 2001 NCAA I-AA play-off, three other NCAA appearances and two Southern Conference championships.

Johnson also coached 2000 Walter Payton Award winner Louis Ivory.  He was the National Coach of the Year in 2001 for Division I-AA.