Falls Church Coach Inducted into Football Hall of Fame
Head freshman football coach Charles Johnson will be inducted into the hall of fame later this month for his coaching achievements.
http://fallschurch.patch.com/articles/falls-church-coach-inducted-into-football-hall-of-fame
There aren’t many people who can attribute their legacy to a broken rib.
That injury, along with a love for the game and a desire not to get hurt again, propelled Falls Church High School head freshman football coach Charles Johnson into the American Football Association Semi-Pro Hall of Fame.
Johnson, 56, is one of two coaches who will be inducted at a ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio later this month. Johnson has coached football on the youth league, semi-pro and high school levels for more than 30 years.
“This is a big thing,” Johnson said. “It’s a legacy thing. I would’ve been happy coaching and not getting in.”
Stationed in Germany while serving in the United States Army, Johnson was a running back for the Stuttgart Stallions in 1981 when a crushing blow left him with a broken rib. With few American-born players on the team and the desire not to break any more bones, Johnson became a player coach. Johnson was also a player coach for the Bremerhaven Seahawks of the German Budesliga, American Minor League Football League.
His coaching stints include: the Columbia (S.C.) Cougars in 1997; the Baltimore Jaguars of the Mason Dixon Football League in 1999; the Chambersburg (Pa.) Cardinals in 2001 and the Military District of Washington Warriors which was made up of players from all branches of the U.S. military.
In 2010, Johnson received a call from Jaguars head coach Said Aziz to join his new staff. Johnson’s first players will be seniors in the 2013 season and he said he is proud of their development.
Rising senior and college football prospect Dieon DuPont said he and his teammates respect Johnson’s approach to teaching them.
“Coach Johnson taught me how to make my reads and focus on one position and everything will fall into place,” said DuPont, a 2012 second team all National District running back. “Even at our age, he talks to us like adults.”
Johnson’s job of molding players, most of whom are new to American-style football, is one of the most difficult ones in the program. Johnson’s wisdom, patience and guidance make it easy for his players to pick up the sport.
“He get’s the kids that have never played before and he is perfect for that,” Aziz said. “A kid that doesn’t get on the field as a freshman doesn’t mean they won’t play eventually.”
Head freshman football coach Charles Johnson will be inducted into the hall of fame later this month for his coaching achievements.
http://fallschurch.patch.com/articles/falls-church-coach-inducted-into-football-hall-of-fame
There aren’t many people who can attribute their legacy to a broken rib.
That injury, along with a love for the game and a desire not to get hurt again, propelled Falls Church High School head freshman football coach Charles Johnson into the American Football Association Semi-Pro Hall of Fame.
Johnson, 56, is one of two coaches who will be inducted at a ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio later this month. Johnson has coached football on the youth league, semi-pro and high school levels for more than 30 years.
“This is a big thing,” Johnson said. “It’s a legacy thing. I would’ve been happy coaching and not getting in.”
Stationed in Germany while serving in the United States Army, Johnson was a running back for the Stuttgart Stallions in 1981 when a crushing blow left him with a broken rib. With few American-born players on the team and the desire not to break any more bones, Johnson became a player coach. Johnson was also a player coach for the Bremerhaven Seahawks of the German Budesliga, American Minor League Football League.
His coaching stints include: the Columbia (S.C.) Cougars in 1997; the Baltimore Jaguars of the Mason Dixon Football League in 1999; the Chambersburg (Pa.) Cardinals in 2001 and the Military District of Washington Warriors which was made up of players from all branches of the U.S. military.
In 2010, Johnson received a call from Jaguars head coach Said Aziz to join his new staff. Johnson’s first players will be seniors in the 2013 season and he said he is proud of their development.
Rising senior and college football prospect Dieon DuPont said he and his teammates respect Johnson’s approach to teaching them.
“Coach Johnson taught me how to make my reads and focus on one position and everything will fall into place,” said DuPont, a 2012 second team all National District running back. “Even at our age, he talks to us like adults.”
Johnson’s job of molding players, most of whom are new to American-style football, is one of the most difficult ones in the program. Johnson’s wisdom, patience and guidance make it easy for his players to pick up the sport.
“He get’s the kids that have never played before and he is perfect for that,” Aziz said. “A kid that doesn’t get on the field as a freshman doesn’t mean they won’t play eventually.”