It took Ray Johnson just 20 minutes to seal the deal and become an assistant men's basketball coach at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, N.J.
Johnson – who posted a San Diego Section-record 661 wins against 185 losses, including eight section titles and seven runner-up finishes as boys coach at El Camino High – agreed to assist interim head coach Greg Vetrone starting Aug. 31.
“I'm all set and am excited to get started,” Johnson said. “The goal obviously is to get to the dance (NCAA Tournament), and with our three top scorers returning along with adding two quality players, we have a chance.”
Johnson, whose son Willie lives in New York, said everything came together after he was contacted three weeks ago.
The position allows Johnson to devote full time to coaching, with no classroom teaching or recruiting duties.
Taking a leave of absence from El Camino means Johnson can return next year if he chooses to do so.
“We are on the same page of wanting to get the kids through (graduation),” said Johnson, who has coached men's professional basketball and high school girls basketball but never at the college level. “It was the same thing at El Camino. I can't wait to get going.”
Johnson was asked if he could name a highlight in his 35 years of coaching.
“Actually, I'd have to say it was our win over (Rialto) Eisenhower in the first round of the Southern California Regionals last year,” Johnson said of the 63-60 victory over the nationally ranked Eagles.
Now he gets to coach on an even larger stage.
