Dr. John Johnson enters his 49th year on the Carson campus. A “living legend” in every sense of the phrase, Johnson’s ties to Southern California began over 60 years ago just up the 405 Freeway, taking the Wilshire exit and heading east towards Westwood Boulevard.
Johnson received his undergraduate degree in 1947 at UCLA, majoring in history and physical education, and later received his doctorate in education at the Westwood campus in 1964.
Johnson was a star running back for the Bruins during his undergraduate career and earned MVP honors in the 1947 Hula Bowl, the first of what has become one of the most prestigious postseason all-star games for college seniors. Johnson also was an All-Coast selection during the 1946 season.
Now in his sixth decade of coaching, Johnson began his coaching career in football with UCLA in 1949 as an assistant coach, where he remained until 1964. As an assistant coach for the Bruins, Johnson’s primary responsibilities focused on defensive backs.
Johnson next moved on to Cal Poly Pomona, where he became athletic director at the school in 1966. He served in that capacity until 1968, when he came to Cal State Dominguez Hills to become the University’s first athletic director and golf coach, during which he has coached three All-Americans.
Johnson was responsible for laying the groundwork for the Toros athletic program and, in the fall of 1968, formed the first intercollegiate team at CSUDH, the men’s golf team.
Although Johnson’s coaching duties center on golf, football is still in his blood. He has been one of the driving forces behind the Hula Bowl, which gains stature annually as one of the top all-star college football games in the country. Johnson also played an important role in the development of the Japan Bowl in the years prior to the inaugural game in 1976.
Additionally, Johnson served as a National Football League professional scout from 1965-1990, serving the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Green Bay Packers (for legendary coach Vince Lombardi), Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers, under whom Johnson served his longest stint as a scout.
A native of Bakersfield, Johnson has authored eight books, including most recent publications A Tale of the Toro: Forty Years of Golf as a CS Dominguez Hills Toro for the Oldest Living Coach (2010) and A Hula Bowl Coach Aloha: Salute to Hawai’i’s Own Premiere All-Star College Football Game (2009), co-authored one tome with J.C. Snead, and revised two existing publications.
Johnson enjoys skiing, writing and tennis during his leisure time. He also teaches graduate and undergraduate classes in the department of physical education, recreation and dance at CSUDH.
(May 2014)
