Gators QBs coach makes UF history as new offensive coordinator
GAINESVILLE — UF quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson did not realize he made history during the offseason with the Gators, but he was honored to learn of the accomplishment.
Johnson’s promotion to Florida offensive coordinator made him the first Black man to hold the position at the school, a fact relayed to him by a reporter Monday night.
“I didn’t realize that,” said Johnson, 33. “If that is the case, it’s obviously something to be very, very proud of. I haven’t looked that up, so I’m not sure. But it’s definitely something to be proud of, for sure.”
Johnson said after last season, coach Dan Mullen discussed adding the role to Johnson’s duties as UF quarterbacks coach.
Johnson joins some rare company.
Seven Football Bowl Subdivision schools have Black offensive coordinators while four others have Black coaches who carry a co-coordinator title, according to a February Associated Press analysis of all 130 FBS schools.
The move returns Johnson to a position he held for one season at the University of Houston, in 2017, before reuniting with Mullen in Gainesville. Mullen recruited Johnson to play quarterback at Utah in 2003 and hired him to coach quarterbacks at Mississippi State from 2014-16.
The promotion also positions Johnson to potentially rise through the coaching ranks, a career path that has not been available to many Black football coaches.
“Obviously, that narrative has been out there in terms of guys climbing the ladder from an offensive perspective and it goes through that quarterback pipeline,” Johnson said. “And there’s definitely some truth to that, but you know, at the end of the day I just want to make sure our guys play really, really well and consistent week in and week out.”
During two seasons at UF, Johnson helped Feleipe Franks shake off a miserable 2017 season as a redshirt freshman and lead the Gators to a 10-3 record in 2018. When Franks suffered a seasonending injury during the Gators’ third game last season, Kyle Trask stepped in and threw 25 touchdowns passes — the most among SEC quarterbacks returning this season.
Even with Johnson as the team’s offensive coordinator, Mullen will continue to be the primary play caller — a role he has held during his 11 previous seasons as a head coach.
“Obviously, when your head coach is very involved in the offense, it’s a little bit different,” Johnson said.
But Johnson has always been involved in game planning and play-calling duties.
Following the Gators’ 41-15 rout of Michigan in the 2018 Peach Bowl, Mullen credited Johnson with a key fourth-and-1 call that led to a 30-yard gain by Kadarius Toney on a jet sweep.
Johnson said his promotion will not change the way Mullen’s offensive staff coaches and gameplans, given the continuity of the group.
Johnson has known Mullen, line coach John Hevesy and receivers coach Billy Gonzales since Johnson was a freshman quarterback in 2003 at Utah. Johnson reunited with the trio at Mississippi State and again at UF.
“I think for him, it was the perfect opportunity to make everything kind of fit into place,” Johnson said of Mullen. “In terms of our day-to-day operation, I think we’ll continue to have a really collaborative effort.”
Yet Johnson does have a bigger, better title than he did this time last year — and perhaps a brighter future as a coach thanks to Mullen’s faith in him.
“He knows the ability to advance in this profession,” Johnson said. “Being a quarterbacks coach is a pipeline to that and it’s something that’s his specialty and he’s done a good job helping me throughout the course of my career and helping me develop as a coach each and every day.”