James Johnson '93 returned to Ferrum College in May 2026 as Head Men's Basketball Coach, after serving three years on the Virginia Tech athletic staff as Director of High School Relations for Football.
Johnson is a 1993 graduate of Ferrum and played four years for the Panthers under Coach Bill Pullen. He helped the Panthers win Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (now the USA South) regular-season and postseason tournament titles and earn Ferrum's only NCAA Tournament appearance in 1992. Johnson also helped Ferrum capture the Dixie Conference regular-season title in 1993.
After graduating in May 1993, Johnson remained at Ferrum and began his coaching career. He served two seasons as Pullen's assistant coach, helping the Panthers win the 1995 Dixie Conference regular season title.
Johnson served three years as Director of High School Relations for Football at Virginia Tech. Prior to that, he served as the Hokies' Head Men's Basketball Coach for two seasons from 2012-14 and spent five years as an Assistant Men's Basketball Coach from 2007-12.
Johnson's résumé includes nine other stops as an assistant coach, including Longwood, Hargrave Military Academy, Old Dominion, Elon, College of Charleston, Penn State, George Mason, Miami and NC State. He was on staff at George Mason when the Patriots made an improbable run to the NCAA Final Four in 2006 under Head Coach Jim Larrañaga.
Johnson's Career Path
1993-95: Ferrum College (Assistant Coach)
1995-96: Longwood University (Assistant Coach)
1996-97: Hargrave Military Academy (Assistant Coach)
1997-00: Old Dominion University (Assistant Coach)
2000-02: Elon University (Assistant Coach)
2002-03: College of Charleston (Assistant Coach)
2003-05: Penn State University (Assistant Coach)
2005-07: George Mason University (Assistant Coach)
2007-12: Virginia Tech (Assistant Coach)
2012-14: Virginia Tech (Head Coach)
2015-17: University of Miami (Director of Basketball Operations)
2017-22: NC State University (Assistant Coach)
2023-26: Virginia Tech (Director of High School Relations for Football)
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