Ex-tigers assistant hired for temporary athletic staff job
Jermaine Johnson, who spent the 2020-21 season as an assistant men’s basketball coach at Memphis, has agreed to a temporary employment contract with the school.
Johnson is expected to be part of the athletic department’s communications staff for the next three months, according to an athletic department spokesperson.
“Whatever they have me doing, I’m willing,” Johnson said Friday in an interview with Jason Smith and John Martin on 92.9-FM. “So, I’m officially a part of the Tiger family for the next three months on a temporary contract. So, that’s a blessing. I appreciate them for doing it. Really kudos to Coach Penny (Hardaway), man. Him and (executive associate athletic director) Dr. (Adam) Walker.”
Hardaway hired Johnson in November 2020, just days before the season opener, with the understanding it was for one season. Johnson’s deal was not renewed and he was not retained following the Tigers’ NIT championship run. But, according to a source with direct knowledge of the situation, Johnson received only a pro-rated portion of his salary. In a show of good faith, the school opted to bring him in as a contract employee to work on a variety of record-keeping projects for the department. The source requested anonymity because it’s a personnel matter.
Johnson, a native of Memphis, was a student assistant from 1999-2003 under former Tigers coach John Calipari. A successful coach at Melrose from 2007-13, Johnson has also had assistant coaching stops at Troy, UT Martin and Georgia Southern.
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.