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PrintDavid Johnson is giving Hickman High School’s basketball program another shot as the new boys basketball coach.
"Columbia's my home," said Johnson. "It's where my family is."
Johnson left Hickman’s basketball program after coaching in the early 1990s for an athletic director’s position at St. Paul’s College in Virginia.
Former coach John Burns announced his departure in early May.
Future Hickman principal Tracey Conrad said in a news release that Johnson was chosen as his replacement because of his ties to Hickman, the students and the community.
In addition to his experience as an athletic director, Johnson coached basketball at the NCAA junior college level. He was the director of nine intercollegiate and intramural sports at the Division II NCAA level.
He continues to show his love for sports and the community as an executive director for Side By Side Services — a group home facility — and owner of Midwest Sports Academy.
Johnson's desire for home led him back to Columbia, where he has been living for the past 15 years.
He said he looks forward to, "the opportunity to share my knowledge and my field and my ability to the kids, and having them be successful both on the basketball court and in the classroom."
It is important to Johnson that he helps Hickman's students move in a positive direction. He hopes he can help boys graduate, build and achieve all goals and aspirations that they have.
Though Johnson is excited about his position as coach, he understands that there will be tough situations.
"It's all about going through trials, highs and lows and how you make the most of the situation," said Johnson. "What you do molds you into the person you will become."
For this reason, Johnson is so passionate about working with this young crowd and inspiring them to become the best they can be.
"I want them to be as successful as they want to be," said Johnson.
Although the basketball season does not begin until November, Johnson will make his coaching reappearance at a basketball camp in August.
A meet and greet for players, parents and community members with Johnson will be held Friday at 3 p.m. in the Hickman High School commons.
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Comments
Excellent decision by the staff at Hickman. The article does not mention that David Johnson also played basketball professionally and I know a lot of the young men have similar aspirations and in Coach Johnson they have someone that can speak to that.