We covered the story of Coach Don Johnson and his staff and how they turned around the Milwaukie Mustang’s making them a playoff contender in 1 season. In his first year Coaching Johnson came in with determination and will to take a program that he felt could win and turn it around. And it worked. The Mustang’s bought into his relentless and persistent push to succeed in the Classroom and on the field. By seasons end players Kendrick Bourne and Richard Ramsey led a group of 4 or 5 players who all moved on to college. Something that was unprecedented at Milwaukie.
86 Upper Classmen gathered at Evergreen this week to discuss the Plainsmen Football Program.
The season came and went and Johnson’s phone rang often with opportunities to move on. Something he had not even considered nor would he until the call came to take his talents as a Coach to Vancouver, Washington and takeover the Evergreen High School Plainsmen program. The former State Championship program has fallen on hard times and much like Milwaukie needed new energy and help. Johnson decided to take on the challenge and move up to the highest level of football in Washington. We covered that story here.
About 2 months have passed since Johnson hit the halls at Evergreen High. And some Spring events are planned there that have to have the football community excited. So we checked in to see how things are going so far.
Coach Don Johnson led Milwaukie to a 7-2 season in 1 year after the Mustang’s had been down for years. Can he repeat at Evergreen HS?
NWPR- Coach how are things progressing at Evergreen?
Johnson– It is incredible what is happening. The thing is this is a Championship program. As far as I know the only State Title ever won out of our league is the Evergreen win over Skyline in 2004 (28-14 4A State Title). People around here have not forgotten about that but the kids need to know we can get back there through hard work. That is the message I am trying to bring and I think it is starting to take hold already.
NWPR– Give us an Example of how that is happening?
Johnson– The weight room and conditioning work outs are getting bigger and bigger and the word is spreading. A couple nights ago we had 46 Freshmen come to a football meeting and that was followed by 86 kids in the Varsity JV Meeting. This is something that just was not happening the last few years.
NWPR– What other things are you and your staff doing to get the program fired up?
Johnson- Well I am full time on Campus now and that has allowed us to sit down and go over Grades! I have 60-70 kids who I have pulled grades on and met with 1-1 and set up expectations and how we can help them. There is a study hall in the works and that worked great at Milwaukie . That is where it starts. On top of that we redesigned the helmets a bit and enlarged the logo and we are going to do some cool things with the jerseys maybe. Just subtle changes but things that will brand the Plainsmen in a way to get the pride levels up.
NWPR- How about the athletes? Are the cupboards bare or do you have talent there too?
Johnson– It is incredible. The talent is here. A lot of the kids have just not been playing and have lost interest. It is my job to bring that back. The Coaches and I are talking with kids in the halls and explaining to them what we are doing and how we are going to rebuild. We need to keep our best kids here at Evergreen instead of them transferring out. That is very important as well.
NWPR- Any players that have you really fired up?
Johnson- Oh my goodness yes. There are several and of course I am still needing to see what they can do. A couple of guys right off the bat are Brody Bagnall who is 6’3″- 230 lbs and a stud linebacker. Koby Eaton has been the QB and will be a Junior and I like what I am seeing there so far. And people are going to be wowed by Justice Murphy who will be a Junior. I will just say he is as good or better as far as an athlete goes then most I have seen. His ceiling is very high. Add to those guys Senior running back Justin Straup who is a born leader and we have a great group to build around. Those are some of the great kids that will help lead this squad.
NWPR- Your Coaching staff was just an amazing group of guys at Milwaukie. Has that staff stayed with you?
Johnson- Yes for the most part. Dewayne Patterson is with us and he played at WSU and is an outstanding guy. Kory Murphy played at Oregon and was a stand out and he was with me at Milwaukie and will be our OC. Keith Akina is our DC and played at University of Houston and he coaches at WOU too. Then we have Mike Holm as our QB Coach and he played at LaVerne College. It is a super experienced and gifted group of great men who happen to be great football minds.
NWPR- Wow lots going on! And what are we hearing about the other things your doing at Evergreen?
Johnson- We invited Portland State to come have their Spring Game here and that is happening this Saturday May 18th at 1 PM. Better yet there is a Free Youth Clinic at 11 Am on the field that the Vikings are holding. This is a huge honor for the school and you know it will be big. A really great opportunity for our boys and PSU too. We sure want all the GSHL football fans and players to come support PSU.
McKenzie Stadium will host the PSU Spring Game May 18th at 1 PM.
NWPR- Wow that is really great Coach. And we heard about a US Army All American event there too?
Johnson– Yes that is another thing. We kept hearing about all these combines and how much kids are paying and all of that which I personally think is something we should try to offer free. So through a connection we had and you guys helping out a bit we are having the US Army All American Combine event at Evergreen High School June 2nd. The info on that is attached. That is another thing we are doing to build interest in the program and help local kids too and their families at a time when people feel like they need to attend these events yet the money is an issue. This is one of the most credible groups in the Nation and the biggest groups as well.
NWPR- Any final thoughts Coach?
Johnson- Well just that we want kids to know this is going to be a competitive program not in the future at some point but from the minute we get going. We are going to compete in every game and we are going to have fun and be a good program. Looking at the GSHL with legendary Coaches who I respect so much I am happy to just be here in this League. Men like Cale Piland (Union) who won the Championship here at Evergreen, Jon Eagle at Camas who has done amazing things over the years, and Steve Kizer at Skyview who has turned that team into a championship program; all of them and more have made this league into a premier place to Coach. We are all happy to be a part of it.
NWPR- Coach thanks so much and we wish you luck in turning this program around and making all this work out for the kids sake!
Johnson- Thanks Dirk and you guys do an amazing job! Thanks for supporting the kids of the NW!
More Info On the Combine is Here:
June 2nd you can be tested at a combine by the staff of the Nation’s premier All American Game; The US Army All American Staff. This is a Hot Event to attend!
