Coach Johnson enters his 21st season as the head coach of the Bethel football program. Under Coach Johnson’s leadership, the Royals have had winning records in the MIAC in 18 of his 20 years. Johnson has recorded the most wins of any Bethel football coach and has been selected MIAC Coach of the Year five times, after the 1989, 1996, 2000, 2006, and 2007 seasons. He was also selected as the West Region Coach of the Year following the 1996 and 2007 seasons.
In 2003, Johnson recorded his 100th career win in a 44-10 victory over Augsburg. He has made Bethel a contender not only in the MIAC, but on a national level, as the Royals have won four MIAC Championships and were crowned West Region champions during the 2007 season. They have advanced to the NCAA National Playoffs five of the last nine years.
Johnson graduated from Bethel in 1979 with a B.A. degree in physical education. Following graduation, he served as an assistant coach at St. Cloud State University and received his master’s degree in physical education with an emphasis in sports psychology. He then moved to St. Cloud Cathedral High School, where he was the head football coach for four years. In 1986, Johnson accepted a position as graduate assistant coach at the University of Minnesota, where he coached the running backs. He later served as assistant coach at Montana State for two years before coming to Bethel. Johnson has brought stability to the Bethel coaching staff, a football-family focus to the team, and a vision of excellence for Bethel football.
Johnson says, “At Bethel University, we have a very distinct football program philosophy, one that is consistent with the mission of the institution as a whole. The cornerstone of our program and school is a real and intelligent faith in Jesus Christ. This faith manifests itself not in contrived or superficial ways, but in very real ways that are evidenced by our attitudes and behaviors.”
“We believe Christian faith lends direct and natural strength to our team. Filled with love from Christ, we strive more than anything to love one another (Philippians 1:9). This love is evidenced by, among other things, our commitment to other members of the team. Because we are committed to one another, we hold each other accountable for great effort toward spiritual, academic, and athletic growth. Toughness and self-discipline are a result of accepting this correction and encouragement from our football family members over a period of time. Football becomes a vehicle to help each player develop a faithful, consistent, goal-oriented life.”
“At Bethel University, it is our intense goal to win each football game we play. Our goal is to win, but our focus is on one another and on the unity and growth we may achieve through Jesus Christ,” added Johnson. “Oswald Chambers said, ‘the most important aspect of Christianity is not the work we do, but the relationship we maintain and the surrounding influence and qualities produced by that relationship. That is all God asks us to give our attention to, and it is the thing that is continually under attack.’ This is what Bethel football is all about.”
Coach Johnson and his wife, Susan, have three children: Cornell, a senior at Bethel, and twin daughters Katie and Maddie, both juniors at Bethel.
