In four years with the team, he missed a total of three days of practice which warranted his nomination for the honor.
[2] Immediately following Johnson's graduation he began his coaching career as an assistant for his alma mater, Michigan State.
[3] In 1938, Johnson served as Springfield's assistant freshman coach while working on his master's degree in physical education.
[6] In 1942, he helped lead the Fighting AA's football team to a 4–3–2 record and a sixteenth overall ranking in the Associated Service Poll.
In 1946, Johnson was hired as the head football coach and athletic director for American International College.
[10] In 1951, Johnson joined Butler University as the backfield coach for the football team and as an assistant athletic director.
After thirteen years in 1964, he was hired as the head football coach and athletic director for Kenyon College.
[13][14] In 1933, Johnson was commissioned as second lieutenant due to his background with the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC).