Athletic department officials at the University of North
Carolina on Pembroke announced the hiring of Othello Johnson as its
sixth wrestling head coach on August 9, 2011.
"I am very honored to take over such a successful program,”
said Johnson. “I look forward to continuing the success the
program has built over the last five years under Coach Jamie Gibbs.
I believe there is much more UNCP Wrestling is capable of,
and I am very excited to be leading the Braves into the
future."
Johnson takes over the reins of a tradition-rich wrestling program
from his mentor, Jamie Gibbs, who resigned after five years at the
helm of the Braves in July. Johnson, who has served UNCP as an
assistant coach in each of the past five seasons, will begin his
duties in the athletic department immediately. He will also serve
as a lecturer in the Health, Physical Education and Recreation
Department at UNC Pembroke.
Johnson brought his expertise to the coaching world as an
assistant coach for the UNCP wrestling team in 2006, playing an
integral role in leading the Braves to five-straight top-30
appearances. As an assistant coach, he mentored seven NCAA
all-Americans and eight student-athletes to NWCA All-Academic Team
accolades. In addition, 16 student-athletes made appearances at the
NCAA Division II National Championships during his most recent
stint.
Over the last five years, UNCP has churned out a 51-40 dual meet
clip, while also registering a slew of impressive finishes at
distinguished tournaments, most notably a third-place honor at the
Midwest Classic in December and a sixth-place finish at the
NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals in January. UNCP posted its best
finish (T-17th) at the 2011 NCAA Division II National Championships
after being ranked No. 11 in the final regular season national
poll.
He has also served a previous stint as a student assistant coach
with the UNC Greensboro wrestling team, as well as undertaking
adjunct teaching positions at both Sandhills Community College in
Pinehurst and at Robeson Community College in Lumberton. He also
serves as a camp instructor for the annual Ken Chertow Wrestling
Camps. He is certified in both Red Cross CPR and First Aid and has
attended each of the last three National Wrestling Coaches
Association (NWCA) conventions.
Johnson began his athletic and academic career at Colby (Kan.)
Community College in 2001, twice (2002, 2003) capturing
all-American accolades from the National Junior College Athletic
Association (NJCAA). As a freshman, he turned in a seventh place
finish at the NJCAA National Championships and highlighted
Colby’s runner-up finish at the 2003 event with a sixth place
finish. The Trojans finished just 4-1/2 points for the national
team title at the 2003 NJCAA National Championships. He also
captured all-academic honors from the NJCAA as a sophomore as
well.
After earning his associate’s of arts degree from Colby CC
in 2003, he moved on to UNC Greensboro where he was a two-time
starter for the Spartans during the 2003-04 and 2004-05 campaigns.
As a junior, he helped lead UNCG to a third place finish at the
Southern Conference Tournament, and then took home sixth place
laurels at the Southern Scuffle during his senior season.
Johnson earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise and sports
science from UNCP in 2007, and then earned his master’s
degree in physical education from UNCP in 2010. Johnson and his
fiancé, former UNCP basketball and track & field/cross
country standout Ivy Ramsey, celebrated the birth of their first
child, Norah, in November of 2009.
