Recruits: Missouri, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, West Virginia, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa
Will Johnson completed his first season on the Valpo football coaching staff in 2022, serving as the team’s running backs coach.
In his first season on staff, Johnson helped the team win three league road games in the same year for the first time since 1962. The Beacons went 3-1 in league road contests, the first time Valpo had won three PFL road games in the same season since the league was founded in 1993. The offense played a key role in those road victories as its 463 yards of total offense on Oct. 8 at Presbyterian was the program’s highest single-game total of the Landon Fox Era and one of three times that the 2022 squad eclipsed 400 yards of total offense, also including a 45-24 win at Marist. Johnson was part of the program’s first ever win at Marist and first win at Morehead State since 2006.
Under Johnson’s guidance, running back Aaron Dawson was named a 2022 First Team All-PFL selection after shattering a 73-year-old program record for the longest scoring run from scrimmage (99 yards vs. Butler), threatening the program’s single-game rushing record (241 yards at Morehead State) and finishing second in program history in single-season rushing yards (1,204). Dawson was selected to the 2022 FCS National Bowl.
In Johnson’s first season on staff, the team ranked in the top five in the PFL in the following offensive categories – total offense (340.9), turnovers lost (16), passing efficiency (140.4), rushing offense (125.7, fourth), passing offense (215.2) and fewest passes had intercepted (10, fourth). The offense moved the chains for 217 first downs, the program’s most in a single season since 2014. The unit improved from the previous season in the following categories – first downs, interceptions thrown, passing offense, passing yards/completion, passing efficiency, total offense and turnovers lost. The program enjoyed its best season in terms of total offense since 2017 and had the program’s best passing offense since 2018.
Johnson, who played in the NFL from 2012-2016 with the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants, came to Valpo after a stint as the running backs and special teams coach for the Pittsburgh Maulers of the United States Football League. He also gained coaching experience at his alma mater, West Virginia University, where he began as a graduate assistant coach for strength and conditioning in 2018 before being elevated to Director of Player and NFL Relations.
A native of Centerville, Ohio, Johnson was named to the 2012 midseason all-rookie team as a member of the Steelers and scored his first career touchdown in a 27-12 win over Washington. That came after he finished his undergraduate degree from West Virginia in multidisciplinary studies in 2011. During his college career, he transitioned from wide receiver to halfback and received numerous honors and accolades. Despite being undrafted, he eventually appeared in 63 games in the NFL and made 20 starts. He scored three NFL touchdowns, two receiving and one rushing.
What They’re Saying About Coach Johnson
Ben McAdoo, Carolina Panthers Offensive Coordinator, Former New York Giants Head Coach: “Hiring Will Johnson as running backs coach is a home run hire for Valparaiso University. His work ethic, character and knowledge of the game in all three phases will be a blessing to the program. I can’t think of a better man to help mentor and develop the players.”
Kirby Wilson, Pittsburgh Maulers (USFL) Head Coach, Former NFL Assistant Coach: “Will Johnson played and coached for me. He is an excellent addition to the Valpo football staff. Valpo is getting an up-and-coming star in the profession. He is a former NFL starting fullback and special teams standout who was an extremely hard worker both as a player and as a running backs coach in the USFL. Accountability, attention to details and preparation are just a few of his strengths. Valpo got a good one.”
