Johnson takes over Huntingdon track and field program

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Huntingdon assistant track and field coach Howard Johnson has been named as the program's interim head coach.

Huntingdon athletic director Buzz Phillips officially announced the promotion on Monday.

"We're excited to have Howard taking charge of one of our newest programs," Phillips said. "With his background and experience, we feel like he is the right person to help us establish and build our track and field program."

Johnson, who joined the Huntingdon staff in 2011, helped start the women's track and field program and is preparing the men's team for its first season of competition in 2013.

"I'm very excited to have the chance to mold this program in the direction the school wants it to go. My goal is for Huntingdon track and field to be a championship caliber program," Johnson said. "I'd like to thank the administration, President J. Cameron West, Mr. Jay Dorman and Coach Phillips for giving me this opportunity. I definitely want our track and field program to make them and the school proud."

Johnson said he was pleased with the performance of the women's team this past spring. He expects to see similar effort and results from the men next spring.

"I was encouraged by the first year," Johnson said. "We had a team of first-year college track athletes and it takes time to adjust. But we continued to improve and we finished strong. Now, the girls have a better understanding of what it takes to be a successful college athlete.

"As we add the men's team this year, I think it's going to help complete the program. Having a men's team and a women's team will build morale and boost enthusiasm."

Johnson replaces Huntingdon Director of track and field and cross country Nate Rucker. Rucker was hired as the head women's cross country coach at Upper Iowa University in June. Huntingdon's new head cross country coach will be announced at a later date.

This is the first head coaching position for the 29-year-old Johnson. Before joining the Huntingdon staff, Johnson spent two seasons as an assistant coach at New Mexico Highlands University. During those two seasons, he worked with six all-conference athletes and had three qualify for nationals.

A native of Clarendon, Jamaica, Johnson was a six-time all-conference selection at Adams State. He was a four-time all-conference hurdler, earned all-conference honors in the triple jump and long jump and was a four-time academic all-conference selection.