Interim no more...

When his 6th season at Texas State began, Coach Terrence Johnson was an assistant on Danny Kaspar's staff. On March 10th, reports started to surface around the internet that Texas State University would remove the "Interim" portion of Coach Terrence Johnson's title. On March 11th, Coach Johnson was named the Joe Gottfried Coach of The Year for the Sun Belt Conference and the 16th Head Coach at Texas State University. It's been an amazing year for Coach Johnson, and I know he is really just getting started. His skillset, knowledge and experience is just what the Bobcats need to continue the journey towards being perennial Sun Belt powers. 

 

Terrence Johnson was tasked with leading a previously good team (21-11 & 2nd in the Sun Belt in 2020) that was in turmoil. Head coach Danny Kaspar resigned on Sept. 23 after the conclusion of an investigation into racially insensitive remarks and Johnson was inheriting a "House-Divided" as it's been reported that early in the season the Bobcats delayed the start of practice for 3 days because the team could not get along. Before they could coach "X's & O's", Coach Johnson had to address his team’s feelings, hurt and concern. He had to allow them to express the things that were bothering them and he utilized group therapy as a substitute for practice to accomplish that. For many the task of winning in this situation would be inconceivable, Coach Johnson took the hand he was dealt and showed that it's not the cards you're given, it's the way you play them! 

 

Coach Johnson led the Texas State Bobcats to a 18-6 (12-3 in conference play) while securing the schools first ever Sun Belt regular season title (the last conference championship came in 1999 as a member of the Southland Conference). He achieved the most wins in a year by one coach at Texas State and has demonstrated that his skill-set far exceeds his ability to recruit top talent. The proof is in the stats. This year, opponents of the Bobcats averaged 61.2 points per game (down from last years 64.3). The Bobcats improved in Rebounding Margin (+0.2 to +3.3), Field Goal % (45.8 to 46.4), and Three Point % (32 to 38). 

 

The things that stand out to me the most about Coach Johnson's leadership is his ability to overcome adversity, his outside the box thinking and willingness to seek out support for his student athletes. Whether that support be in the form of Hillary Jones (senior psychologist at the Texas State counseling center) or all-time leading scorer in program history, Nijal Pearson, Johnson understands that sometimes your players need to hear another voice and he has the humility to provide that. The efforts of Coach Johnson have paid off in him being chosen to lead the Texas State Bobcats into the 2021/2022 season and BEYOND! He has shown that he has the ability to successfully lead this team through controversy and a global pandemic, and now we are all excited to see him continue his winning way and continue to grow the Texas State program! 

#MoreThanJustARecruiter