Johnson moving on from CA

The ultra-successful coach is leaving to lead the men's lacrosse program at St. John Fisher College.

By DEAN LICHTERMAN / dlichterman@mpnewspapers.com

CANANDAIGUA - In nearly three decades of working in athletic programs at Canandaigua Academy, John Johnson fashioned a reputation of building winners.

He is hoping to work the same magic as the head coach of the St. John Fisher College men's lacrosse team.

"The moments I really liked the most about coaching high school lacrosse was taking a program at its beginning stages and, along with the coaches and people in the community, building a program that ranks high in the state every year," Johnson said yesterday after the news was announced. "With the girls basketball program, it was reeling, and it was turned into a solid sectional and state program."

Johnson coached the CA boys lacrosse team for 26 years, compiling a record of 357-149. He led the Braves to 13 Finger Lakes League titles, six Section 5 titles and four Western New York Regional Championship crowns. Johnson estimates that the CA program has sent 140 athletes to the collegiate level.

Johnson, 55, also coached the CA girls basketball squad to a 218-49 record over 12 years. Those teams won nine FL East titles, two sectional championships and two regional championships while Johnson was four times named Section 5 and Finger Lakes East Coach of the Year.

"Some of the keys to success throughout the years are preparation, time commitment and consistency with his principles," said Canandaigua athletic director Jim Simmons. "It's going to be a tremendous loss for our program. He's difficult to replace."

Johnson, who also was defensive coordinator for the varsity football team for 23 years, takes over a program that is in just its fourth season of NCAA Division III lacrosse. The Cardinals finished 6-7 last season and won just two games in 2004.

He is just the second lacrosse coach at Fisher, replacing Craig Camp, who resigned at the end of last season. He also joins longtime friend and former CA head football coach Mike Foster at the Pittsford school. Foster is the offensive coordinator for the Cardinals.

"One of the things I'm proud of is building a program with the kids, the community and the school district," Johnson said. "I'm looking forward to trying to do the same thing at St. John Fisher.

"I have to work hard to do that."

Johnson will have Colin Hartnett, who played for him at CA, as an assistant coach. The Cardinals' captains for next season are senior defenseman P.J. Burns and senior midfielder Mark Schnobrich.

Johnson plans to rely on his captains and assistants as he learns aspects of the college game, such as recruiting and admissions, and as he becomes familiar with the current Cardinal players and opponents.

"They are very, very helpful to me in the nuances of things that are different for me now," Johnson said. "I'm learning about the recruiting process, things like that."

He takes over a program in the shadow of football and basketball teams that both reached the NCAA Division III tournament last season. As an added challenge, the Cardinals have joined the Empire 8 Conference, which Johnson claims is one of the best Division III leagues in the country. "We're very excited to have John coaching here," said Fisher athletic director Bob Ward. "John has been very successful at the high school level and I'm confident his experience, work ethic and knowledge of the game will help our young program to continue to grow and flourish."

Johnson, a graduate of St. Bonaventure University, lives in Canandaigua with his wife, Susan, son Marshall, who will be a freshman at CA in the fall, and daughter Jordan, who is in the fifth grade. He plans to retire from teaching in January.

"My family is supportive of this," Johnson said. "Change is difficult. It is not easy.

"If I had to write a script for myself for my life, it would be like a fairy tale. I've been fortunate to do what I've wanted to do for my whole life with teaching and coaching. To me coaching is teaching. That is what I'm going to try to do at the next level."

 

 

 

 

Longtime CA lacrosse coach takes job at St. John Fisher

By GREGORY G. McNALL

Finger Lakes Times
gmcnall@fltimes.com


CANANDAIGUA — In 1980, John Johnson coached his first boys lacrosse game at Canandaigua Academy. It was one of the first lacrosse games he had ever seen. Now, 21/2 decades and more than 350 wins later, the veteran coach is jumping to college.

Johnson, 55, was named men’s lacrosse coach at St. John Fisher after a 26-year run on the Braves’ sideline. He became the second head coach in the Cardinals’ four-year history, succeeding Craig Camp, who resigned after the past season.

The move coincided with Johnson’s decision to retire as a history teacher at Can-andaigua in January. He taught at the Ontario County school for 33 years.

“It was getting to the point where I was planning on retiring within two or three years,” Johnson said. “[St. John Fisher Athletic Dir-ector] Bob Ward and I had talked for a while about the possibility of coaching there some day. When the position came up, I thought it was the right time.”

“It was a very difficult decision. Being from Canan-daigua, one of my goals after college [at St. Bonaventure] was to go back home and be a teacher and coach,” Johnson continued. “It’s been a great run. We’re blessed here with a community, a school, a coaching staff and kids who bought in to what we were trying to do. They all allowed us to do what we wanted, which was to coach and teach kids. I’m proud of the accomplishments of all the kids who have come through the program.”

Johnson built a strong résumé while turning Canandaigua into a successful and consistent program. He compiled a record of 357-149, guiding the Braves to 13 Finger Lakes league titles, six Section V crowns and four Western New York Regional championships.

Johnson also led the Canandaigua girls basketball team to unparalleled success during a 12-year stint. He also is leaving that position to concentrate on the numerous duties of heading up a college program.

At St. John Fisher, Johnson inherits a team that finished 2005 on an upswing. The Cardinals were 6-7 overall, but won five of their last seven games with a team that consisted of only two seniors.

“I’ve had the opportunity to meet with the two captains. They’re quality kids, very good players and scholars,” Johnson noted. “The men’s sports programs at St. John Fisher have got a good tradition started. It’s an excellent school.

“What I was looking for when I retired was maybe an assistant coaching job in college where I could impart some of my knowledge,” he continued. “I didn’t expect to have a chance to be a head coach so close to the area.”