Oct. 7, 2010

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Terrence Johnson, an up-and-coming high school coach in both Louisiana and Texas, was officially named an assistant men's basketball coach at Samford University on Thursday, announced Head Coach Jimmy Tillette.

"Terrence is an outstanding addition to our staff," said Tillette. "He has great recruiting roots in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, and we're very excited about him joining our basketball program here at Samford."

Born in New Orleans, La., Johnson grew up in the close-knit community of Sebastepol, La., located in St. Bernard Parish. As the son of a basketball coach, Johnson was taught the fundamentals of basketball and instilled with the values of perseverance, dedication and teamwork.

He would later go on to have successful high school careers at Warren Easton High School of New Orleans, La., and Meadowcreek High School of Norcross, Ga. After graduating from high school, Johnson attended Southern University in Baton Rouge, La., where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in microbiology.

Like his father, Johnson began teaching at St. Bernard High School, where he would start his coaching career as an assistant under Head Coach Butch Stockton. Also during this time, Johnson worked as a personal trainer and conducted the individual workouts for Hollis Price (Oklahoma), Quannas White (Oklahoma), Brandon Spann (Tulane) and a number of additional collegiate players.

Johnson comes to Samford from Houston, Texas, where he taught at George E. Hopper Middle School and coached at Alief Elsik High School for five years.

During his time in Houston, Johnson would travel to New Orleans three weeks a month during the spring and summer to develop a coordinated program of high school student-athletes from six different schools in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge area communities.

At Samford, Johnson's duties will include, but are not limited to, recruiting, scouting, film exchange, as well as the day-to-day preparation of the Bulldog basketball team.

Johnson was officially hired Thursday to fill the position vacated by Thomas Johnson, who recently accepted a coaching job at East Tennessee State University.