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Vanderbilt
Names Bobby Johnson As Commodore Football Head Coach 12/23/01
 Nashville,
Tenn. - Bobby Johnson, who guided Furman University to the
NCAA I-AA championship game just two days ago, has been named
the new Vanderbilt Football Head Coach.
Johnson,
50, was introduced to the media and numerous Commodore boosters
in a ceremony Sunday afternoon. He becomes the 25th head coach
in Vanderbilt's 111-year football history, replacing Woody
Widenhofer, who resigned November 8 after five years.
Vanderbilt
Chancellor Gordon Gee and Director of Athletics Todd Turner
praised Johnson during their welcome to the Nashville campus.
"I
am very pleased we were able to find the ideal match for the
profile we established at the beginning of our search," Turner
said. "We wanted a proven winner, we wanted someone with a
proven commitment to excellence, and we wanted someone who
would have the experience to put our program on a path toward
success. We found that person in Bobby Johnson. We are thrilled
he is with us today."
 "I
am confident that we have reached for, and captured, the best
head coach for Vanderbilt," Gee said. "I have been impressed
with Bobby's commitment to excellence, his passion for success,
and his absolute integrity. He is a leader who has the respect
and affection of his players, and who has instilled a sense
of winning and excitement in his program."
Johnson
was 60-36 in eight years at the Furman helm, guiding the Paladins
to four NCAA playoff appearances. He is a three-time recipient
of the American Football Coaches Association Region II Coach
of the Year Award.
Johnson
worked as a top assistant for 16 years - 14 at Furman - before
accepting the Paladins' top job in 1994. He served as assistant
head coach and defensive coordinator under Jimmy Satterfield
at Furman from 1986 to 1992. He was defensive coordinator
at Clemson for one year prior to being named Furman's head
coach.
Johnson
has coached several All-Americans at Furman, including 2000
Walter Payton Award winner Louis Ivory, 1999 Southern Conference
Defensive Player of the Year John Keith, and 1996 Southern
Conference Offensive Player of the Year Luther Broughton.
 A
native of Columbia, S.C., Johnson starred in football, basketball
and baseball at Eau Claire High School. He continued his playing
career at Clemson, where he lettered three years, contributing
at both wide receiver and cornerback. He topped Clemson in
interceptions in 1971 and 1972, and was a two-time Atlantic
Coast Conference All-Academic honoree. He graduated in 1973
with a bachelor of science degree in management, and in 1979
was awarded a master's degree in education from Furman. He
is married to the former Catherine Bonner of Charleston, S.C.
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