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Bobby Johnson (b. Columbia, South Carolina) is the current head football coach at Vanderbilt University. He became the Commodores' coach in December 2001 after leading Furman University to the Division I-AA national championship game. Johnson's first head coaching job was at Furman, which hired him in 1994. Previously, he had been defensive coordinator at Clemson University.
Student-Athlete
As a player at Clemson, Johnson was a three-year letterman and led the team in interceptions playing cornerback in 1971 and 1972. Johnson is a 1973 graduate of Clemson University with a bachelor's degree in management and received his masterâ??s degree in education from Furman in 1979.
Transition to Vanderbilt
After a successful stint at Furman, Bobby Johnson was hired on at Vanderbilt University to take the helm of an SEC squad. Many questioned the administration's loyalty to Coach Johnson after three consecutive 2-9 seasons, but Vanderbilt's loyalty paid off. Coach Johnson, along with Vanderbilt's Chancellor Gee and Vice Chancellor Williams, had been an instrumental part of a new culture at Vanderbilt. The Athletic Department was abolished -- a first among universities in a major Division I-A athletic conference. Bobby Johnson publicly committed himself to a vision of the "student-athlete" -- not just an athlete.
Recent success
In Johnson's fourth season, the Commodores finished 5-6 and defeated the hated in-state rival Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville for the first time since 1975. The team's offensive captain that season -- Jay Cutler -- was drafted #11 overall by the Denver Broncos and named as starting quarterback during his rookie season. Supporters credited Coach Johnson's work in consistently developing Cutler as a person and a player with the success.
Coach Johnson's players, when asked for quotes, have excellent things to say about him: including that he brings out all of their talent and ability; he consistently respects them as people, and he wants to make an impact on their life.
Supporters argue that Johnson stands in contrast to other SEC schools and their coaches, with Johnson's players virtually avoiding run-ins with the law, NCAA regulations, or academic mishaps. Alumni, supporters, and fans have stated that Bobby Johnson has transformed Vanderbilt from the doormat of the SEC to a competitive, dangerous football team that enhances the lives of the student-athletes who participate.
External link
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