Charles Johnson enters his third year with the Newberry program. He was hired in October of 2017 by Head Coach Kimour Bruce as an Assistant Coach, specializing in field events. In May of 2019, Johnson was promoted to Associate Head Coach of the men's and women's track and field programs.
Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Johnson earned his Bachelor's degree from the University of Miami. Johnson competed with the Hurricanes' track and field team, where he held a school record in the hammer throw for six years and is still in the top 10 all-time best list for both discus and hammer.
He joined the Nova Southeastern cross country and track and field staff in the winter of 2015 as a graduate assistant coach, with specialization in throwing and combined events.
During his first season with the track team, Johnson saw big improvement in the throwers. Three records were broken and the Sharks received their first PBC champion in the throws. Johnson also had two student-athletes recognized as all-region performers.
In his second year, two school and two Peach Belt Conference records were broken, while one of his student-athletes qualified provisionally for nationals following an individual PBC championship. He also helped place six student-athletes on all-region teams.
The following year, Johnson’s student-athletes had a record-setting season overall as personal-bests were set in all four field events in 2017. The women’s discus and hammer records and oldest men’s javelin record all fell to Johnson’s student-athletes.
At the Peach Belt Conference Championship, another student-athlete under Johnson’s tutelage became the first thrower in program history to win more than one event in hammer and shot put. Johnson saw six more student-athletes earn All-Region honors.
Johnson developed the team's only women’s high jumper, who in the year prior had not cleared any height at competition, to achieve scoring points at the conference meet which contributed to a conference championship victory for the women’s team.
Before joining the Sharks, Johnson coached multiple student-athletes who qualified for the FHSAA state championships every year during his tenure at Miami Coral Park Senior High School, including a state champion in 2013.
A 2017 NCAA Emerging Leaders selection, Johnson currently holds a master of science degree with specialization in athletic administration from Nova Southeastern University.
He states, "I would like to thank Coach Bruce and Athletic Director Ralph Patterson for the opportunity to join the track and field program. It is with great honor to be a part of the revitalization of the team, and to contribute to its future success".
"This is a great day for our Track and Field and Cross Country teams," Patterson said. "We have two high caliber coaches that are worthy of promotions. Roger's vision and plans for building a program of distinction are exciting. Charles has enthusiastically accepted his promotion to Associate Head Track and Field Coach and is ready to take this important step up the coaching ladder. He is appreciated by our student-athletes and me for his excellent work the last two years.
"We are extremely fortunate to have Roger and Charles as important members of our staff. Please join me and our track and field and cross country student-athletes in congratulating these gentlemen."
Johnson has been with Newberry for two seasons as an Assistant Coach with the Track and Field programs. He was instrumental in the second-year program's success this season, helping the men's team break 25 school records between the indoor and outdoor seasons and seeing the women's team establish 18 new school records.
"I am very grateful for my experience here at Newberry College," Johnson stated. "The life lessons and growth I've sustained here is immeasurable. With this opportunity to advance my career and step into an expanded role, I'm looking forward to the future success of the program."
