Maurice Johnson enters his second season as North Carolina A&T's linebackers coach. He will also continue his defensive coordinator duties. Johnson is responsible for overseeing and constructing the Aggies defensive game plan. His other duties include being the primary person calling the Aggies defensive alignments on game day.
Johnson managed a defense last season that effectively played man coverage, allowing the Aggie defense to keep offenses off balance with timely blitzes. Johnson is one of the best young coaches in the profession. Johnson was one of only 25 coaches selected from thousands of applicants to participate in the 2010 NCAA Coaches Academy in Indianapolis. The Academy is designed to train minorities for head coaching positions. He is also a member of the American Football Coaches Association.
Statistically, the Aggies defense made vast improvements from the season before, making Johnson one of the most effective defensive coordinators in the MEAC. Two Aggies made first-team All-MEAC in defensive end Jarrell Herring and strong safety Justin Ferrell. A third player, cornerback Quay Long, was a second-team selection. In Johnson's first year, the Aggies had their best showing on the all-conference team in five years. The Aggies also had an impressive showing nationally. The Aggies ranked ninth in the nation pass defense and seventh in the nation in turnover margin.
Johnson brings with him his own reputation for coaching top-ranked defenses. Johnson comes to N.C. A&T after spending one season at Division II Miles College as its defensive coordinator. The other duties Johnson performed included being the team's linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator.
Prior to the 2006 season, Johnson was named the defensive coordinator at independent NAIA school Edward Waters College. Johnson put together a dominating defense for the Tigers in 2007. The Tigers ranked No. 1 among NAIA independents in total defense, sacks (32) and interceptions (29). Among all NAIA schools, Edward Waters College had the No. 25 ranked defense and rated among the top five nationally in sacks and interceptions. Johnson began his career in 1998 at Leon High School in Tallahassee, Fla.
In 2000, Johnson returned to his alma mater Florida A&M to become a graduate assistant. Two years later he landed his first collegiate coaching job as the defensive line coach, strength and conditioning coach and wellness center coordinator at East Mississippi Community College in Scooba, Miss. After two seasons at East Mississippi CC, Johnson returned to the high school ranks when he took a position at Jefferson County High School in Monticello, Fla. In one season as the defensive coordinator, the Tigers won their district conference title and advanced to the second round of the playoffs.
Johnson made another return visit to Florida A&M in 2005 to serve as the school's linebackers and strength and conditioning coach. Johnson is a 1999 graduate of Florida A&M, and has a B.S., in criminal justice.
