Assistant Coach Jamal Johnson, who enters his fourth year with the University of Southern Indiana Men's and Women's Track & Field teams in 2020-21, has led the Screaming Eagles' sprinters and jumpers to new heights in his first three years. Johnson, who assists Head Coach Mike Hillyard in all aspects of the USI Track & Field program, was hired in September of 2017.
A year ago, Johnson's sprinters and jumpers set six school records and racked up 15 top-five marks in the USI Track & Field record books. He oversaw USI's first-ever national qualifier and All-American in a sprinting event as freshman Zach Barton qualified for nationals in the 60 meters before earning All-America honors. Johnson also helped guide freshman Kaylee Lane a strong rookie campaign that saw her collect GLVC Indoor Track Athlete of the Week honors.
In 2018-19, Johnson's sprinters set six school records and had 18 top-five marks in the USI Track & Field record books. During his first season at USI, five student athletes posted personal bests and several student athletes transitioned into events they did not compete in during their prep careers. Johnson helped guide then-freshman Tyrell Nickelson to a school record in the indoor triple jump in 2018 and saw his student athletes post 33 top-10 performances in the USI record book.
Johnson came to USI after serving as the Head Coach of the Wayne Memorial High School Varsity Track & Field program in Detroit, Michigan.
During his time at WMHS, Johnson designed and implemented training plans, primarily for short and long sprinters; oversaw other staff members on the team; and monitored student athletes’ academic success.
Under Johnson’s tutelage, several WMHS student athletes earned conference and regional championships and posted top-five finishes at the state meet during his four years with the program. He also recently coached the WMHS senior Anavia Battle to a pair of state titles during the indoor and outdoor seasons this past spring and directed Montel Hood to three All-America honors and the Michigan state record in the outdoor 400 meters (:46.29).
At the collegiate level, Johnson served as a volunteer coach at Midwest Region foe Wayne State University, where he facilitated the fall training program for short and long sprinters.
He also was the founder and head coach of the Intensity Track Club and has had numerous athletes qualify and compete at the AAU Junior Olympics from 2014-17, including a pair of AAU national championships in 2017.
“Jamal is a young, ambitious and knowledgeable coach with a proven track record at the high school and club level,” Hillyard said. “He has worked with athletes that have been among the best in the history of Michigan high school track & field.
A native of Detroit, Johnson graduated from Eastern Michigan University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education and a minor in coaching.
