Towson University Athletics

Derrick Johnson enters his ninth season as an assistant coach at Towson University, working with the cornerbacks.

Johnson arrived at Towson in 2008 as the team’s secondary coach.

In his first eight years with the Tigers, Johnson has worked with a defensive unit that has allowed less than 200 yards passing five times.  

Along the way, Johnson helped mentor two All-Americans and one NFL Draft pick.

The Tigers were young at cornerback in 2015 as they returned just three players that had collegiate experience.  Despite the youth, the defense allowed just  192.5 yards per game and had nine interceptions and 32 pass break-ups.

The defensive backfield was one of the strongest units for the Tigers in 2014 as they again ranked in the top half of the CAA in total defense, pass defense and scoring defense.

The unit was anchored by All-American cornerback Tye Smith.  The first-team all-conference selection ranked second on the team with 85 tackles, while leading the team with eight passes defended.

Smith would go on to be drafted in the fifth round by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2015 NFL Draft.  

The Tigers run to the National Championship game in 2013 was aided by a strong defense that intercepted 16 passes and forced 35 turnovers.

The starting duo of Smith and Jordan Love combined to break up 22 passes and post 167 tackles.  The duo both earned All-CAA honors, while Love as selected a Second-Team All-America.

Towson captured its second-straight CAA title in 2012 with a defense allowed just 174.3 yards a game through the air.  First-year starters, Love and Smith, helped a Tigers pass defense allow 52.9 yards less than a season before.  It marked the fewest passing yards allowed over the past decade.

Johnson came to Towson after spending the 2007 season on Tim Keating’s staff at McDaniel College.  In his one season with the Green Terror, Johnson helped mentor defensive back Travis Wenrich.  Wenrich earned honorable-mention all-conference honors after ranking second in the league with five interceptions.

Johnson entered the coaching ranks in 2004 as an assistant coach at Riverside High School in North Carolina.  In his first season, RHS posted a 7-4 record.

In his third season, he helped the Pirates reach its first state championship game appearance.  His defensive backs led the state with 27 interceptions.

In addition to serving as the defensive backs coach, Johnson also taught at RHS and served two years as the track and field coach.

Johnson attended the University of North Carolina where he was a four-year letterwinner for the Tar Heels.  He appeared in all 48 games in his career, including making eight starts.

He was part of the 2001 defense that led the ACC in total defense and passes defensed, while ranking third in rushing defense and scoring defense.  The Tar Heels capped the season with a 16-10 victory over Auburn in the Peach Bowl.

After his senior season, Johnson received an invite to the Washington Redskins Rookie Camp.  He went on to play one season with the Raleigh Rebels of the American Indoor Football League.

Johnson graduated from UNC in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in African-American history.

Johnson and his wife, Tiffanie, have one son, Dean.