Joey Johnson enters his third year as an assistant coach at Bryan. A 1996 graduate of Liberty University, Johnson brings experience both as a collegiate coach and as a player to the staff of the men's soccer program. Johnson played collegiately at Bryan for two seasons and Liberty University for 2 seasons, leading both squads in scoring totals and earning Big South Conference and tournament honors. Upon graduation, he began his professional career in South America with Aurora FC in Bolivia winning a league title in 1997 and kicked off a seven year career in the U.S., Canada, and South America. A few highlights included helping the Charlotte Eagles win their first USL National Championship in 2000 and a promotion to the USL A-League. After a successful USL A-League campaign with the Charlotte Eagles in 2001, Johnson helped the Wilmington Hammerheads to their first USL Pro Select League National Championship in 2003 as tournament MVP. Johnson finished his playing career as player/coach at London City F.C. in the CPSL (Canadian Professional Soccer League) in 2006.
As a player, Coach Johnson participated in six professional tours overseas taking him to Asia, Africa, South America, and the Middle East, to play high level matches and reach out through soccer to the underprivileged in local communities.
Coach Johnson began his collegiate coaching experience at Bryan in 1996. He then spent four seasons from 1997 -2000 as an assistant to the men's and women's programs at Milligan College in Johnson City, TN. Following Milligan, he became the assistant to the men's and women's programs at Southern Wesleyan University from 2001-2004. In 2006, Coach Johnson returned to Bryan as an assistant to the men's soccer program. Since 2006, the Lions have an overall record of 36-14-4 and most recently, in 2008, won the AAC Regular Season Conference Championship. Coach Johnson holds an NSCAA Advanced National diploma.
"I am privileged to use soccer as a platform for relationship on a daily basis. My interest in the development of our players isn't reserved for just the training ground, but in their personal lives away from the field; and in those successes, I find the most fulfilling rewards," said Coach Johnson.
Coach Johnson and his wife, Suzanne, live in Dayton.
