July 29th, 2021 | Josh Adelman
Coach Ray Johnson earns the July 2021 Soldiers To Sidelines Coach of the Month Award for his relentless pursuit of coaching mastery and his dedication to his community.
Ray is currently an active-duty US Army 1SG stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii with 18 years of service. He is an outstanding leader as a career soldier and basketball coach. Very few people have the ability and capability to coach at the collegiate level and lead in the armed services effectively. Ray Johnson has figured it out.
Coach Johnson has been coaching for eight years. His path to becoming the current Men’s Assistant Basketball Coach and Strength and Conditioning Coach at Hawaii Pacific University is grounded in hard work and determination. Ray knew he wanted to coach as a young high school basketball player and kept his vision ever since. Coach Johnson reflects on how he grew to a leader in the army and a division II men’s collegiate basketball coach.
“My Junior year of High School, I knew I wanted to coach basketball. By the time I was a Sophomore in college is when I decided that the collegiate level is where I wanted to coach. I had a passion for the game and enjoyed breaking film down. Most importantly, I loved ensuring my teammates were mentally and physically prepared for the season. So, helping others grow on and off the court was the main factor for me. After numerous injuries from playing basketball in the military overseas, I decided it was time to pick up the clipboard and concentrate on coaching.”
“Coach ‘Dip’ Metress at Augusta State University gave me my first opportunity at the Collegiate level in 2016. I learned so much from him and Coach Jamie Quarles who is an Assistant now at the University of Buffalo. Due to military obligations, I had to PCS, which means move to another state for work, which landed me in Louisville, KY. I was afforded the opportunity to work with Louisville Sports Commission, ESPN Heisman House, Ironman competition, and NCAA Division 1 Cross Country meets.”
“One day I received a call from Coach Wiley Brown, Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Indiana University Southeast, and he told me he had an opening for assistant coach. Without hesitation I accepted. Later in the year, it turned into an Associated Head Coach position. We ended the season with Three All Americans, every senior graduated and we made it to the Sweet 16. In 2019 I was afforded the opportunity to work operations for the men’s basketball program at Division I VCU. This was a huge opportunity for me to be able to watch practices and learn as much as possible from the coaches.”
“The following season I wanted more hands-on with coaching and player development, so I took another coaching position at Richard Bland JUCO which is 20 miles south of Richmond. Currently, I’m stationed in Hawaii which is my last spot before retirement. I am coaching at Hawaii Pacific University and the Founder of the Hawaii Elite Basketball showcase. I just want to be able to share my story and help the next person, while being part of something bigger than myself!”
Coach Johnson utilizes his military experience and coaching perspective to include others in his bigger picture. He incorporates similar core values, morals, and leadership from the Army into his coaching practice at the university. These lessons extend way beyond the court. For instance, Ray remembers one instance that had a big positive societal impact.
“When I was at Augusta State there was a lot of controversy via social media, about kneeling when it came down to the National Anthem. We had some great dialogue where everyone spoke freely, we grew together as a team even closer after that.”
Moments like these are great examples of how our coaching practice extends far beyond the sidelines. Coach Johnson takes it very seriously and has a tremendous extenuating impact. He doesn’t have a few favorite players; he loves them all equally. He says, “Sitting down with players and watching them reach certain goals we talk about in the pre-season is gratifying enough for me. Players graduating and buying into the program is what makes me proud.”
For all of Coach Ray Johnson’s hard work and passion, It is our honor to award him the Soldiers To Sidelines Coach of the Month award for July 2021.
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