Murray State University Athletics
Photo by: EKUSports Communications
Jake Johnson Added To Football Staff
3/9/2016 1:21:00 PM | Football
Former Eastern Kentucky assistant Jake Johnson has been named as the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator for the Murray State football team, head coach Mitch Stewart announced Wednesday.
"I am really excited about Jake joining the Racer family," said Stewart. "It is always good to have people who are familiar with your league and the competition that you play, and obviously Jake is extremely familiar with both the FCS as a whole, and in particular the OVC, after being at EKU for so long. EKU has always played good defense and, in my opinion, has always been the toughest in the league when it comes to defending their special teams. So naturally when things worked out the way they did and I had a chance to hire Jake, I tried to make it happen as soon as possible. Above all else, the best thing about Jake is that he is a tremendous person, a great staff guy, and a great family man and those are the characteristics I want around our players on a daily basis."
Johnson previously spent 12 seasons at EKU, serving as a graduate assistant in 2004, before being promoted to the defensive line coach for the 2005 season. He served in that role for 11 seasons until departing after the 2015 season.
In that time, Johnson played a key role in the Colonel's three OVC championships and four NCAA appearances. Last season under Johnson's tutelage, defensive end Noah Spence was named as the OVC Co-Defensive Player of the Year and as an All-American by four different organizations.
Prior to EKU, Johnson spent the 2003 season at Division II Wingate as the tight ends coach. As a player, he earned four letters with the Colonels where he served as the team's starting center for three seasons. He was a member of EKU's 1997 OVC championship team and in 2001 earned All-OVC accolades.
Johnson is a 2002 graduate of Eastern Kentucky and holds a B.A. in geography with an emphasis in global studies. He is married and he and his wife, Kate, have two children, Sam and Zoey.
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"I am really excited about Jake joining the Racer family," said Stewart. "It is always good to have people who are familiar with your league and the competition that you play, and obviously Jake is extremely familiar with both the FCS as a whole, and in particular the OVC, after being at EKU for so long. EKU has always played good defense and, in my opinion, has always been the toughest in the league when it comes to defending their special teams. So naturally when things worked out the way they did and I had a chance to hire Jake, I tried to make it happen as soon as possible. Above all else, the best thing about Jake is that he is a tremendous person, a great staff guy, and a great family man and those are the characteristics I want around our players on a daily basis."
Johnson previously spent 12 seasons at EKU, serving as a graduate assistant in 2004, before being promoted to the defensive line coach for the 2005 season. He served in that role for 11 seasons until departing after the 2015 season.
In that time, Johnson played a key role in the Colonel's three OVC championships and four NCAA appearances. Last season under Johnson's tutelage, defensive end Noah Spence was named as the OVC Co-Defensive Player of the Year and as an All-American by four different organizations.
Prior to EKU, Johnson spent the 2003 season at Division II Wingate as the tight ends coach. As a player, he earned four letters with the Colonels where he served as the team's starting center for three seasons. He was a member of EKU's 1997 OVC championship team and in 2001 earned All-OVC accolades.
Johnson is a 2002 graduate of Eastern Kentucky and holds a B.A. in geography with an emphasis in global studies. He is married and he and his wife, Kate, have two children, Sam and Zoey.
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