State College, Pa. - April 30, 2003 - Penn State Nittany Lion basketball coach Ed DeChellis has tabbed former College of Charleston assistant coach James Johnson as assistant coach at Penn State. Johnson joins Hilliary Scott on DeChellis' new staff, which still has one spot yet to be filled.
Johnson will begin his second decade as an assistant coach this season. He comes to Penn State after a one-year stint as an assistant at the College of Charleston. Prior to his time at COC, he served as an assistant at Elon College for two seasons.
Johnson was a four-year player and a three-year starter at Ferrum College in Virginia. While at Ferrum, he helped guide his team to two conference championships. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology in 1993, he immediately stepped into the coaching ranks at his alma mater and served as an assistant at Ferrum for two seasons.
In 1995, Johnson moved on to Longwood College as an assistant and then spent one year at Hargrave Military Academy. In 1997, he began a three-year run as an assistant at Old Dominion. Following the conclusion of the 2000 season, he signed on at Elon.
"I'm very pleased to have a coach the caliber of James Johnson join my staff here at Penn State," DeChellis said. "Johnson already has a decade's worth of coaching experience and was a valuable assistant at the College of Charleston. James is a tireless worker whose energy, outgoing personality and great recruiting abilities will enable Penn State to recruit the type of student athletes needed for this level. He has proven himself a quality individual and he is a welcomed addition to the Penn State family."
Johnson is a native of Powhatan, Va.