BREAKING: Catholic's Johnson leaves for Benjamin Russell

KIrk Johnson led Catholic to back-to-back state championships and now takes the head football coaching job at Benjamin Russell in Alexander City. (File Photo)

By TIM GAYLE

Four years ago, the most successful coach in Catholic football history left the school to accept a similar job with Benjamin Russell High.

Four years later, Aubrey Blackwell’s successor, now the most successful coach in Catholic football history, will follow the same path and accept a similar position at Benjamin Russell High.

Kirk Johnson, who added to the foundation established by Blackwell at Catholic with back-to-back state championships the last two years, announced on Monday he was leaving for Benjamin Russell.

Johnson wanted to delay the announcement until Monday morning so he could represent Catholic as one of the featured speakers and as the 5A Coach of the Year recipient at the Alabama Football Coaches Association annual banquet on Saturday. He told his Catholic players about the job change on Monday morning, then left for a press conference in Alexander City.

“Over the last 10-plus years, the Catholic community has embraced me and welcomed me into their family,” he said in a Facebook post. “They have been through every personal high and low in my life -- from getting married to expecting our first child in February to losing my brother and my mom -- the Catholic community was always there for me.

“And in return, in the last 10-plus years, I committed myself to creating a successful program with the support of my tremendous coaching staff. Together, we took a poorly respected football team to one of the most respected and successful football programs in the state. While the success of the football program is something I am very proud of as a coach, I am most proud of the young men that came through this football program with an uncertain future and are now leaders in college, in their families and in the community.”

Alexander City Schools superintendent Dr. Jose Reyes and school officials have been looking for a coach since announcing in early December that they were moving on from Smitty Grider’s three-year tenure as head coach. Grider was 23-12 with one quarterfinal appearance.

“I am pleased to welcome Kirk Johnson to the Benjamin Russell family,” Reyes said. “His leadership, experience and passion for developing young athletes make him the perfect fit to guide our football program into the future. We are confident that his dedication and vision will help our players succeed both on and off the field.”

Grider had replaced Blackwell, who spent one year at the school, compiling a 3-7 record before electing to take another coaching job in Mississippi.

“It’s very similar to Aubrey,” Catholic athletic director Daniel Veres said. “He believes this is the step he needs to take to get to where he wants to be. I’m astounded that he’s been able to do what he’s done in his four years of being the head coach. To become the winningest coach ever (at Catholic) in just four years and to have the best winning percentage in the state in this decade is pretty astounding.”

Johnson will conclude his remarkable career at Catholic without ever having lost a regular-season game. He is 55-2 with the Knights, including a 39-0 record in regular-season games and a 27-0 record in region games. The Knights currently own the state’s longest winning streak at 29 games, including a 4A state title in 2023 and a 5A state championship in 2024.

“Fifty-five wins for a senior class? I don’t think it’ll ever be duplicated in the city,” Veres said. “I want him to go out and be great, just like (quarterbacks coach) Jeremy (Johnson) going to Charles Henderson, just like (offensive line coach) Jimbo (Chappell) going to Prattville. They’re doing what they think is best for advancing their career. I hate to lose him. I love him like a little brother and I’m grateful for everything that he was able to do. It was pretty amazing.”

Catholic officials will now turn their attention to hiring a replacement. After Blackwell and Johnson combined for 109 wins over the last 10 seasons, it shouldn’t take long to find a qualified replacement.

“I’m not saying we won’t look at great assistant coaches, but we’re somebody now that is widely considered one of the top 10 programs in the state,” Veres said. “This is a destination job now. We’re going to be able to choose the best fit and the best coach for us that’s out there.”