Jovon Johnson

Denison University

Title

Asst. Football Coach (Defensive Coordinator)
Email

johnsonjd@denison.edu
Year

2nd Year

Jovon Johnson joined Denison University in April 2024 as the team's Defensive Coordinator and is in his second season with the Big Red.

In his first season at Denison, Johnson helped lead a defense that ranked third in the conference in points per game (21.0) and in rushing (97.2). The team would record three different shutout wins against Kenyon, Hiram, and Oberlin, the first time having three shutouts in a season since 1986. The Big Red finished the season with 10 interceptions, 24 sacks, and five forced fumbles. Denison had four defensive players land on All-NCAC teams, with seniors Michael Ballenger and Collin Murphy receiving first team honors, Jaylin Epps receiving second team, and Nick Pellicciotta landing on third team. Murphy was also selected for the D3football.com first team All-Region.

Coach Johnson joins the Big Red coaching staff via NCAC rival Wittenberg University, where he was the Special Teams Coordinator, Linebacker Coach and Head JV Coach. Coach Johnson has spent time on staff with Northeastern State University of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and NCAA Division I West Virginia University and Ohio University. While with the Mountaineers and Bobcats, Coach Johnson served as a Defensive Graduate Assistant, working primarily with the linebacker position group. During his time at Ohio, Coach Johnson helped guide a defense that led the nation in takeaways in 2018 with 30. During that 2018 season, the Bobcats earned a trip to the DXL Frisco Bowl. Before joining the collegiate coaching ranks, Coach Johnson began his journey at Solon High School as a Linebackers coach in 2016.

Coach Johnson played collegiately at Ohio University under legendary Head Coach Frank Solich. While playing for the Bobcats, Johnson was named team captain in 2015 after obtaining Third-Team All-MAC honors in 2013. Coach Johnson graduated from Ohio University in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Health. He would later go on to obtain a Master’s in Coaching Education in 2019 from OU.