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Football
Johnson, Reggie
Reggie Johnson
- Title:
- Assistant Coach, Inside Linebackers
- Email:
- UNTFootball@unt.edu
- Alma Mater:
- Louisville, 1996
Reggie Johnson joined the UNT football staff in December 2024 as the Inside Linebackers coach. He joins the UNT coaching staff after spending the 2024 season coaching linebackers at Sam Houston.
Johnson joins the staff with an impressive resume which includes coaching in 10 bowl games, including the 2005 Gator Bowl, 2006 Orange Bowl, 2010 Sugar Bowl and 2011 Cotton Bowl.
Johnson has over 25 years of coaching experience, including a pair of stints as a defensive coordinator at both Alabama A&M and UAB.
In his one year with the Bearkats, Johnson helped SHSU finish 22nd in FBS in total defense, 13th in passing defense and 14th in red zone defense. He coached First Team All-Conference USA honoree Kavian Gaither and helped Sam Houston rank seventh in the nation in turnovers forced.
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Johnson helped the Bearkats finish the year 10-3 and earn the first bowl victory in program history with a 31-26 win over Georgia Southern in the New Orleans Bowl.
Prior to his time in Huntsville, Johnson spent four seasons coaching linebackers at Missouri State. He was promoted to co-defensive coordinator in 2023 under new head coach Ryan Beard while retaining his duties with the linebackers.
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In 2022, Johnson coached a pair of All-MVFC performers (Ferrin Manuleleua and Von Young). He also helped LB Tyler Wiltz earn Third Team All-America (Phil Steele) and First Team All-MVFC honors in 2021.
In his first campaign in Springfield in 2020-21, Johnson helped guide the Bears to a share of the MVFC championship and first NCAA FCS Playoff appearance in 30 years.
Johnson preceded his time in Springfield by serving three seasons as defensive line coach at Purdue University from 2017-19, where his unit helped the Boilermakers earn multiple bowl appearances. He developed five All-Big Ten selections during his tenure. Johnson’s success at Purdue was also marked by his work with a young defensive end, George Karlaftis, a future NFL first round draft pick.
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Prior to joining the Boilermakers, he spent the 2016 season at Western Kentucky, where he coached the defensive ends. While there, the Hilltoppers won the Conference USA Championship and the Boca Raton Bowl.
Johnson spent two seasons (2014-15) as defensive coordinator, linebackers and defensive line coach at Alabama A&M. Â While at A&M he coached Anthony Lanier, a future NFL player who spent time with the Chargers, Chiefs, Redskins and Saints.
Johnson spent two seasons as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at UAB (2012-13) In 2013 he coached the NCAA leader in tackles per game (13.08 per game -157 total) Marvin Burdette.
Johnson coached linebackers in the SEC at the University of Arkansas (2008-2011). There he worked with standout player Jerry Franklin, a Freshman All-American who led the Razorbacks in tackles for four consecutive seasons, was a 2x All-SEC selection and NFL free agent. In 4 seasons Franklin spent time in Denver, Chicago, Carolina and Detroit.
Johnson worked at his alma mater, Louisville, for four seasons as linebackers coach (2004-07), one season as defensive line coach (2003) and one year as a graduate assistant (1997).
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In 2003 at Louisville, Johnson helped mentor future consensus All-American, Bronko Nagurski Award and Ted Hendricks Award winner Elvis Dumervil, as well as freshman and future first-round NFL Draft pick Amobi Okoye. Dumervil was selected in the fourth round by the Denver Broncos in the 2006 NFL Draft and went on to a 12-year NFL career that saw him selected to the Pro Bowl five times and set the Baltimore Ravens’ franchise record for sacks in a season with 17. Okoye, who was the youngest player ever drafted at the age of 19 when he was selected by the Houston Texans with the 10th overall pick in 2007, played six seasons in the NFL with the Texans and Chicago Bears.
Johnson spent two seasons at the UTEP (2001-2002) where he coached future second round NFL second round pick Thomas Howard.
In 1998 Johnson was hired for his first full time collegiate coaching position at Alabama A&M, where he served as special teams’ coordinator and defensive tackles coach (1998-99) and inside linebackers coach (2000).
Johnson was a four-year letterwinner as a linebacker at Louisville from 1987 to 1990. As a senior, he played on a team that went 10-1-1, including a 34-7 victory over Alabama in the 1991 Fiesta Bowl. Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1996 and a master’s degree in education from Louisville in 1998.
Johnson and his wife, Eulice, have two children, Sydney and Jordan.
Coaching History
Johnson joins the staff with an impressive resume which includes coaching in 10 bowl games, including the 2005 Gator Bowl, 2006 Orange Bowl, 2010 Sugar Bowl and 2011 Cotton Bowl.
Johnson has over 25 years of coaching experience, including a pair of stints as a defensive coordinator at both Alabama A&M and UAB.
In his one year with the Bearkats, Johnson helped SHSU finish 22nd in FBS in total defense, 13th in passing defense and 14th in red zone defense. He coached First Team All-Conference USA honoree Kavian Gaither and helped Sam Houston rank seventh in the nation in turnovers forced.
Â
Johnson helped the Bearkats finish the year 10-3 and earn the first bowl victory in program history with a 31-26 win over Georgia Southern in the New Orleans Bowl.
Prior to his time in Huntsville, Johnson spent four seasons coaching linebackers at Missouri State. He was promoted to co-defensive coordinator in 2023 under new head coach Ryan Beard while retaining his duties with the linebackers.
Â
In 2022, Johnson coached a pair of All-MVFC performers (Ferrin Manuleleua and Von Young). He also helped LB Tyler Wiltz earn Third Team All-America (Phil Steele) and First Team All-MVFC honors in 2021.
In his first campaign in Springfield in 2020-21, Johnson helped guide the Bears to a share of the MVFC championship and first NCAA FCS Playoff appearance in 30 years.
Johnson preceded his time in Springfield by serving three seasons as defensive line coach at Purdue University from 2017-19, where his unit helped the Boilermakers earn multiple bowl appearances. He developed five All-Big Ten selections during his tenure. Johnson’s success at Purdue was also marked by his work with a young defensive end, George Karlaftis, a future NFL first round draft pick.
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Prior to joining the Boilermakers, he spent the 2016 season at Western Kentucky, where he coached the defensive ends. While there, the Hilltoppers won the Conference USA Championship and the Boca Raton Bowl.
Johnson spent two seasons (2014-15) as defensive coordinator, linebackers and defensive line coach at Alabama A&M. Â While at A&M he coached Anthony Lanier, a future NFL player who spent time with the Chargers, Chiefs, Redskins and Saints.
Johnson spent two seasons as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at UAB (2012-13) In 2013 he coached the NCAA leader in tackles per game (13.08 per game -157 total) Marvin Burdette.
Johnson coached linebackers in the SEC at the University of Arkansas (2008-2011). There he worked with standout player Jerry Franklin, a Freshman All-American who led the Razorbacks in tackles for four consecutive seasons, was a 2x All-SEC selection and NFL free agent. In 4 seasons Franklin spent time in Denver, Chicago, Carolina and Detroit.
Johnson worked at his alma mater, Louisville, for four seasons as linebackers coach (2004-07), one season as defensive line coach (2003) and one year as a graduate assistant (1997).
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In 2003 at Louisville, Johnson helped mentor future consensus All-American, Bronko Nagurski Award and Ted Hendricks Award winner Elvis Dumervil, as well as freshman and future first-round NFL Draft pick Amobi Okoye. Dumervil was selected in the fourth round by the Denver Broncos in the 2006 NFL Draft and went on to a 12-year NFL career that saw him selected to the Pro Bowl five times and set the Baltimore Ravens’ franchise record for sacks in a season with 17. Okoye, who was the youngest player ever drafted at the age of 19 when he was selected by the Houston Texans with the 10th overall pick in 2007, played six seasons in the NFL with the Texans and Chicago Bears.
Johnson spent two seasons at the UTEP (2001-2002) where he coached future second round NFL second round pick Thomas Howard.
In 1998 Johnson was hired for his first full time collegiate coaching position at Alabama A&M, where he served as special teams’ coordinator and defensive tackles coach (1998-99) and inside linebackers coach (2000).
Johnson was a four-year letterwinner as a linebacker at Louisville from 1987 to 1990. As a senior, he played on a team that went 10-1-1, including a 34-7 victory over Alabama in the 1991 Fiesta Bowl. Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1996 and a master’s degree in education from Louisville in 1998.
Johnson and his wife, Eulice, have two children, Sydney and Jordan.
Coaching History
1997-98: Louisville, graduate assistant
1998-99: Alabama A&M, special teams coordinator
2000: Alabama A&M, inside linebackers
2001: UTEP, defensive ends
2002: UTEP, linebackers
2003: Louisville, defensive line
2004-07: Louisville, linebackers
2008-11: Arkansas, linebackers
2012-13: UAB, defensive coordinator / linebackers
2014-15: Alabama A&M, defensive coordinator / linebackers / defensive line
2016: Western Kentucky, defensive ends
2017-19: Purdue, defensive line
2020-22: Missouri State, linebackers
2023: Missouri State, co-defensive coordinator
2024: Sam Houston, linebackers
2025-: UNT, inside linebackers
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