UPDATED JOHNSON RESIGNATION: Coach says leaving was 'best way' for MA to move forward
Robert Johnson, far left, and his son Noah, center, had resigned their positions at Montgomery Academy, effective immediately. (File Photo)
By TIM GAYLE
Montgomery Academy athletic director and head football coach Robert Johnson told school administrators on Friday he would be stepping down from his athletic role at the school.
Head of school John McWilliams made the announcement in an e-mail to the school’s parents, faculty and boosters, noting that Johnson “has submitted his resignation which the Academy has accepted” and that the coach “wanted me to express his appreciation to the community and best wishes to MA in the future.”
Johnson’s son Noah had stepped down a couple of weeks earlier from his role as football assistant and head softball coach after off-the-field conduct that did not involve the school in any way. On Friday morning, Robert Johnson told school administrators that he did not plan to return to the school next year.
“After further discussion, I decided to resign effective Friday,” Johnson said. “I just feel that resigning now is the best way for Montgomery Academy to move forward. I’ve loved every moment that I’ve worked at MA, loved all of the administrators, faculty, parents and players and wish them nothing but the best.”
The head coach, selected by the Alabama Football Coaches Association as its 3A Coach of the Year in 2020, has been a hot commodity in coaching and athletic administration circles and has been linked to a variety of jobs over the last couple of years. While he didn’t want to publicly comment on his future, it would not be surprising to see him get back into coaching at another school.
He also refused to comment on his possible successor at either position, although defensive coordinator Ethan McBride is certainly a candidate for the head coaching position.
Johnson’s hiring by McWilliams in March, 2020 was hailed as a great hire by the headmaster and resulted in a 29-11 record over Johnson’s first three years, the best start by a Montgomery Academy football coach in the history of the school.
Johnson, an all-state center on the Eagles’ 1987 state championship team and a 1988 Hitchcock Award winner, was one of its most recognizable alumni. Upon graduation from Auburn, he returned to work for head coach John Tatum as an assistant from 1991-94, was the defensive coordinator at St. James (1995-96) and the head coach of the Trojans from 1997 to 2006.
He went to Ozark to become the head coach at Carroll in 2007-09, at Pike County in 2010, at Tuscaloosa Academy in 2011-18 and at Lee-Scott in 2019 before he was selected by McWilliams to replace Gary Nelson.
In 2020, he made an immediate impact by leading the Eagles to a 13-1 record, losing in overtime in the 3A semifinals to Catholic. The following year, he upset the Knights and reached the 3A finals before losing to Piedmont and finishing 11-4. This year, a rebuilding effort by the Eagles resulted in a 5-6 record and a loss in the first round of the 4A state playoffs as Montgomery Academy was moved up in classification by Competitive Balance Factor.
“Coach Johnson has contributed greatly to the school's football success during his three years of service, including state runner up in 2021 and state semifinal appearance in 2020,” McWilliams wrote in his e-mail statement to boosters. “Coach Johnson came to MA at the height of the COVID pandemic, and he kept our athletic programs going strong even at a time of significant challenge.
“I thank him for his service to the school and wish him well in his next endeavor.”
McWilliams concluded his e-mail by noting that longtime volleyball coach Julie Gordon and tennis coach David Bethea would move up on an interim basis, with Gordon taking over as interim athletic director and Bethea taking Gordon’s role as associate athletic director.