Derrick Johnson named ECSU’s Director of Athletics
April Emory
Posted On April 10, 2015
April Emory
April 10, 2015
After completing a nationwide competitive search facilitated by a committee consisting of alumni, staff, conference representation and other members of the community, Chancellor Stacey Franklin Jones announces Mr. Derrick Johnson as ECSU’s next Athletic Director. "Mr. Johnson brings a breadth of applicable Division II athletic experience including academic support, coaching, sports communication, fund raising and management," states Chancellor Jones. "He is a great fit for ECSU at this juncture and he’ll have my full support." He will assume the duties as ECSU’s Athletic Director on May 18, 2015. Mr. Johnson, a native of Trenton, New Jersey, brings over 15 years of athletic administration and coaching experience. He will conclude his current post as Athletic Director for Riverside City College in Riverside, California where he led a successful 19 sport program for the Tigers. During his tenure at RCC, Mr. Johnson was member of several professional and civic organizations, among them the California Community College Athletic Directors Association (CCCADA), National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD), and National Association of Black Journalist (NABJ. He is also a 2010 graduate of the NCAA Leadership Institute Johnson was among 25 of 500 applicants selected into the program nationally. Mr. Johnson has previously held positions such as Assistant Director of Public Relations, Sports Information Director, Athletic Operations Manager, and Head Baseball Coach. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism/Communications from the University of South Carolina-Aiken and his Master’s degree in Sports Administration/ Management from the United States Sports Academy. During his college career at USC-Aiken, Johnson was a gifted student-athlete as both a writer for the Pacer Times newspaper and as a standout baseball player. He was named to the NCAA Division II Peach Belt All-Conference team in back to back seasons in 1996 and 1997. In addition, Johnson was selected as a Major League Draft Pick by the Florida Marlins organization in 1993 and 1994. In 2008 he was inducted in to the New Jersey Athletic Hall of Fame (Ewing High School) for past accomplishments in football and baseball.
