Coach Lew Johnston has been a frequent contributor to both American Football Monthly and Gridiron Strategies over the last few years. We introduced our subscribers to his offense in 2005, the Spread-Shotgun/Wing-T, a variation of the Delaware Wing-T.
After 22 years as the head coach of Western Branch High School in Chesapeake, VA, Lew retired from coaching at the end of the 2006 season. His overall record at the school was 163-65-3 and at one point between 2001 and 2004, Western Branch had a 32-game regular season winning streak.
After a year away from coaching, Lew assumed the head coaching position at Joliff Middle School in Chesapeake. This coming June, he will take full retirement from the Chesapeake school system but still will be coaching. Coach Johnston was recently hired as the new head coach at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy. Responsible for the school’s varsity, junior varsity, and middle school teams, he has been going a mile a minute since the first of the year.
Included in this issue of GS is Coach Johnston’s ’10 Critical Things To Do When You Take Over a New Head Coaching Job.’ He details each one including the importance of a heart-to-heart meeting with the upcoming senior class. According to Coach Johnston, “You need to plant the seed in their minds right there that if you’re going to be successful next fall, it starts with them.”
This issue of GS also includes an interview with legendary football coach Bill Ramseyer who has turned around programs at both the high school and college level. Former Division II coach John Parker offers his perspective on “Unsung Recognition – The Life of a Lower Level Head Coach.” Offensive and defensive drills as well as points of emphasis on kickoff returns are also featured in this issue.
We welcome your feedback and hope you enjoy this issue of GS.
Respectfully,
Rex Lardner
Managing Editor