Q&A With Kyle Johnson, Eastern Handcock H.S
Ql. Tell us a bit about your background as far a football is concerned.
I played my first year of football when I was in the third grade and played through my four years of college (14 seasons). I went to Olivet Nazarene University in Kankakee Illinois and had a pretty successful career. I really love the game and wasn't ready to give it up. The NFL was not an option and I knew I had the ability to be a good coach so that is the path I chose. I did play on a summer tour through Germany, Austria, and the U.S.S.R. (at that time) with Christian Outreach International. It was a great learning experience for me, European football was much better than I expected. I began my coaching career at Georgetown College in Kentucky in 1992. We were the defending national champions in the N.A.I.A. division. It was another great learning experience for me even though we were not able to repeat our national championship. After that first year of coaching Christian Outreach asked me to be the head coach for their team going to the Ukraine. I accepted and we went 4 - 0 on the trip. My boss from Georgetown got a job at a higher division college in California Pennsylvania and I was honored he asked me to go along with him. After that year in Pennsylvania I accepted a defensive coordinators job at a high school in Illinois. I spent two years there. I have now moved back near my hometown in Indiana where I have taken a similar postilion at another school.
Q2. What made you want to become a coach ?
Two reasons
1. I was blessed with a lot of great men who also happened to be great coaches. Their influence on me made me want to have similar influence on other young men. They also helped me to love the game even more.
2. I love coaching a game like it is a chess match. Most people don't realize the intelligence it takes to call a game. It really is intellectually stimulating.
Q3. What are your personal ambitions, for this year and the future ?
I am going to answer this question in terms of football only. I want to get my teams to reach their potential every year. With the team I am coaching now that means one of the top defensive teams in the state and winning one or two state championships in the next three years. That is our potential.
Q4.What have been your favourite moments in football ?
My senior year in college I was named to the district all-star team, was voted the offensive lineman MVP by my teammates and played in a small college bowl game. The whole college experience was incredible. There aren't many football players who can say they played four years of college. Coaching wise I would have to say this year was one of my favorites. We only had three returning starters and still had a decent year.
Q5. What aspects of coaching do you not enjoy so much ?
There isn't a perfect place to coach. There will always be problems. The administration can cause trouble for high schools and colleges and there are always bad and lazy attitudes. The toughest thing for me is to tell a kid he is not good enough to be a starter or to replace him with a better player. That is very difficult for me and always will be.
Q6. What are your wishes as far as developing football worldwide ?
I personally have been trying to take camps overseas for the last year. I haven't succeeded yet but I hope get them going this summer. My goal is not to take a European vacation and have a good time. I want to teach the game to people who have the desire to learn and give them a lot for their money. I would also like to speak at an N.F.C.A. convention someday.
Q6a.Does the prospect of 'American' Football becoming a global game excite you ? Why ?
YES! Football is the game for everybody. What other game can you watch big men beat on each other; fast players run through and around people; and aggressive, strong, tough, mean, men tackle for an entire 60 minutes and the game be decided by a 145 pound kicker. It has everything.
Q7. Who has been the most talented player you have 1) seen. 2) coached.
1. That is a pretty tough question. I have played against a few guys who have played in the NFL. I still think a friend of mine, Ranier Caldwell, is probably the best player I have seen, besides games where I was a spectator. I played with Ranier and I'm sure if he hadn't severely injured his knee he would be playing in the NFL today. He was a 260 pound running back with break away speed.
2. I coached a player named Terrance Randall when I coached in Illinois. He plays basketball in college instead of football but he was talented. He weighs 200 pounds and is still very fast. He could do a lot of things on the football field.
Q8. What is your ultimate ambition as far as coaching is concerned ?
I want to win and help boys to become men. As a younger coach I desired to be an NCAA Division I coach. I still would like to get back to the college level but it isn't a major goal of mine. Where ever I am I want to help my team be the best we can be.
You can contact Kyle by email at the following address - [email protected]