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Johnson Steps Down After 31-Year Career  Coach Brad Johnson applauds his team during a 2023 game. Darren Doyle, story: Madison Doyle, photos: Edmonson County High School head coach of boys' basketball Brad Johnson has officially announced his retirement at the end of this school year. The official announcement came to school administration yesterday with team meetings taking place both yesterday and this morning. "It really was a hard decision, but it was my decision," he said. "I didn't talk to anyone else about it, really. It was just something that I prayed about and knew it was time."  Coach Johnson cuts down the net after winning the 2023 District 12 Championship with the Edmonson County Wildcats. Johnson led the Wildcats to another district championship this past season, only the school's third for boys basketball in 30 years. Coach Johnson has seen a very involved and influential career in not only coaching, but also teaching and administration. Over the course of his 31-year career, he has served as:
  Brad Johnson speaks after being named head coach of Edmonson County boys' basketball in April of 2021. Johnson said he knows that sometimes when you hear that a coach wants to retire and spend more time with family, it's also conveniently coupled with the fact that a particular team has lost a roster full of seniors or other valuable players. "It's something that people joke about or whatever, but that's certainly not the case here," he said. "I've never been that guy. Instead, I've always tried to be a guy that can pull the boot straps up and take on whatever challenge is coming next year, but in this case, I really want to spend time with my family and do some other things. The future of Edmonson County basketball is bright. There are a lot of really good players here all the way down to the fifth grade. I look forward to being a little less stressed and sitting in the stands and watching because I think good things are ahead."    Coach Johnson's coaching career literally came full circle as his first-ever head coaching job was at Edmonson County as the boys' basketball coach in 1999 through 2002. There, one of his first players is now principal of ECHS Jonathan Williams, who rehired Johnson as head coach in 2021. "It really is full circle," Johnson said. "You talk about Ohio, Grayson, and Barren, and they all circle Edmonson County. To be able to work under a guy that played for me, Mr. Williams, to be able to work with him, for him to come to practice, it's just really special. To be able to reconnect to a lot of people here after coming back--I see a lot of kids walking the halls that look just like their parents and I remember when their parents were here. The three years I've been back here have been extremely rewarding." Johnson returned to Edmonson County as an assistant under Mike McClintic in 2020 after retiring as principal in Barren County. Principal Williams described the departure of Johnson as a "great loss" but he still had an overwhelming feeling of gratitude. "I’ve had the privilege to have the best mentor possible down the hall anytime I needed advice over the last three years and that’s been on a very regular basis," Williams said. "The goal is for each coach we hire to take our program wherever it is and continue building it, and coach Johnson has definitely done that. It has been so special to me to have him here; Coach Johnson’s first head coaching job was here when we were juniors and to have had the opportunity to hire him and watch him reestablish a culture of winning has been a very full-circle experience. I love him dearly and we will remain close friends forever. I have the utmost respect for him and his professional resume speaks for itself." Williams also agreed that the future of Edmonson County athletics was bright. "We have an excellent returning starter next year and we have a very athletic group. I'm excited to see what this group will be able to accomplish."  Williams said ECHS will start the search immediately for the next head coach and a search and interview committee will be formed to assist him in vetting candidates. He said he hopes to name a replacement by May 5th. Johnson said he will technically remain as coach for the remainder of the school year and he will continue his athletic director duties during that same period. He said he plans to spend more time at Shady Hollow Golf Course in Cub Run, where he helps manage. "I made a commitment to J.C. (Ramsey) at Shady Hollow the first time I retired and I plan to spend some time there, kind of managing and working there, but hopefully not all work. I'd like to hope I can play a little more now." He said he will also have more time to help his mother, who lives about an hour away, as well as visit a granddaughter who is in Louisville. Some of Johnson's achievements in coaching include:
Coach Johnson had an open-door policy with the Edmonson Voice. He granted access by phone, text, email, and in-person whenever we needed it. We were always welcome in the gym, at practices, in the locker room, or his office. His intense and "all-business" personality was a reflection of the high expectations he had for not only players and students, but also for himself. When asked about all the things he'd seen and done over the course of his career, he joked that he'd thought about writing a book. "The most rewarding aspect of my career is the relationships," he said. "Seeing kids grow up, get married, and have kids...I just hope I pointed some of those people in a good direction. Every tough game situation or a hard spot on the court, I would tell kids, 'That's the way life is, man. You gotta pull up your boots and fight through it,' and so, it's a blessing to me when I've heard people say that they went through hardships but remembered what their old coach said. I've also had a lot of former players reach out to me and say some really nice things, so that makes you feel good." Johnson will continue to live in Edmonson County with his wife and sons. He has three sons and two daughters. "Even when I worked at three other places, I made Edmonson County my home and it's going to stay my home. It's where I go to church and it's a special place. I still can't get over how full our gym was during the district tournament and how happy everybody was. This is a special place and I have happiness all around. I'm just looking forward to being a husband, a dad, a granddad, and a son." 
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