Published: May 07, 2008 02:49 pm            

Johnson takes over NHS football

NEWTON — The Newton Tigers finally have a new football coach.

After months of searching, Newton hired James Johnson to be the school’s next football coach. He replaces Tim Moore who stepped down after three seasons with the Tigers.

Johnson comes to Newton from Bay Springs where he has been for the last nine years, the last two years as defensive coordinator.

“I’m just excited to get this opportunity,” Johnson said. “I thought it was a great opportunity for me to get to the area where I basically grew up. I just want to get the kids excited about Newton football again and bring that pride back.”

Johnson does have local connections, despite graduating from Heidelberg. His parents worked at La-Z-Boy for 30 years and he grew up in the Garlandsville area, but spent his summers in Newton.

After five straight losing seasons – three under Moore and two under Pepper Posey – Johnson realizes he has his work cut out for him.

“I think the biggest challenge is getting the kids out and keeping them out,” Johnson said Friday after meeting with the kids at the Newton gym. “I was really impressed with the kids I saw out. We’ve just got to keep them out and get that spirit and pride back.

“The kids have to know that I will do anything for them. There has got to be a trust factor there.”

Johnson came with a strong recommendation from basketball coach Crandal Porter, who has won two state championships at the school.

“I know the main thing he will be able to do is relate to the kids well,” Porter said. “I think he and I are a lot alike in that fashion. He will demand a lot out of them but he will also care for them. To win on this level, the kids have to care for you and you have to care for them. I guess that’s the recipe I’ve used. I think the kids will have fun playing for him.”

Johnson seems to be a perfect fit as Newton and Bay Springs are very similar schools.

“Yea, they are a lot alike,” Johnson said. “It’s basically the same kind of kids at both schools and we were able to win football games there. I don’t know why we can’t do the same here.

“Just like Bay Springs, we know we will be playing in a tough district. We know we will have to be ready to play every week.”

Coming with Johnson as an assistant coach is Rodney Hawthorne from Forest, where he has coached running backs and defensive backs the last two years.

Superintendent Raymond Clark said Johnson’s name just kept coming up in conversations with people about a new football coach.

“I talked to a lot of people about this opening and his name just kept coming up,” Clark said. “I talked with my coaches here and they all liked what he had done at Bay Springs. I also got a lot of good comments from the community from people that knew him and his parents.”

As for the remainder of his coaching staff, Johnson was meeting with them on Friday afternoon and would be taking over spring practice on Monday.

        

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