Reggie Johnson is in his first year coaching the Bearkat linebackers in 2024.
He comes to Huntsville after spending the past four seasons coaching linebackers at Missouri State.
Johnson joins the Kats with an impressive resume which includes coaching in 10 bowl games, including the 2005 Gator Bowl, 2006 Orange Bowl, 2010 Sugar Bowl and 2011 Cotton Bowl.
His most-recent stint began when he reunited with Bobby Petrino on the Missouri State staff in 2020 as the team's inside linebackers coach. He was promoted to co-defensive coordinator in 2023 under new head coach Ryan Beard while retaining his duties with the linebackers.
Headlining Johnson's position group in 2022, his third season with the Bears, were All-MVFC performer Ferrin Manuleleua and standout Von Young. Manuleleua racked up a team-high 82 tackles with Young ranking second on the team with 66 total stops. The impact defenders were pivotal to the Bears defensive efforts in Johnson's third season with the program.
Linebacker Tyler Wiltz was back on the All-MVFC team in 2021 and earned third-team All-American honors from Phil Steele after racking up 106 tackles and 14.5 TFLs.
In his first campaign in Springfield in 2020-21, Johnson helped guide the Bears to a share of the MVFC championship and first NCAA FCS Playoff appearance in 30 years. Wiltz also earned All-MVFC that season after posting a team-high 80 tackles, including 51 solo stops and 7.0 tackles for loss.
Johnson preceded his time in Springfield by serving three seasons as defensive line coach at Purdue from 2017-19. His tenure with the Boilermakers netted five All-Big Ten Conference selections. He joined the Boilermakers after spending the 2016 season at WKU, where he coached the defensive ends. The Hilltoppers' primary defensive ends had 98 total stops, 22 tackles for loss and 11 sacks.
Prior to WKU, Johnson spent two seasons (2014-15) as defensive coordinator, linebackers and defensive line coach at Alabama A&M, two seasons as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at UAB (2012-13) and four seasons as linebackers coach at Arkansas (2008-11).
Johnson had previously worked with Petrino at his alma mater, Louisville, where he served four seasons as linebackers coach (2004-07), one season as defensive line coach (2003) and two years as a graduate assistant (1997-98).
Johnson had a three-year stint at Alabama A&M, where he served as special teams coordinator and defensive coach (1998-99) and inside linebackers coach (2000) and spent two seasons at UTEP as defensive ends (2001) and linebackers (2002) coach.
