Taver Johnson joins Ohio State football staff – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/6/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 6, 2007
COLUMBUS, Ohio: Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel has added Taver Johnson to his staff. Johnson, who has spent the past two seasons as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Miami of Ohio, will coach the Buckeyes’ cornerbacks. He replaces Tim Beckman, who recently accepted the position of defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State University.
“We are excited to have Taver (rhymes with favor) as the newest member of the Ohio State football family,” said Tressel. “He is a very talented coach. One of the things that impressed me most about him during the interview process was his passion to be a Buckeye.”
Johnson is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio and a graduate of Wittenberg University, where he was a two-time All-America pick and a two-time choice as the North Coast Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 1992 and 1993.
At the conclusion of the 2006 football season, Johnson, who prepped at CAPE High School, accepted a position with the Oakland Raiders. But after being contacted by Ohio State, he eagerly accepted his new position with the Buckeyes.
“I am thrilled to be part of the Ohio State staff and have the opportunity to work with Jim Tressel,” said Johnson. “I was truly excited about the position with the Oakland Raiders organization, but when this chance came along I just could not pass it up. As an Ohio guy, this is a dream come true for me.”
Johnson began his coaching career at Wittenberg, spending two years there (1994 and 1995) as the Tigers’ defensive line coach.
Johnson then spent three seasons (1996-98) at Millikin University in Decatur, Ill. and one year (1999) as a graduate assistant at Notre Dame before joining the Miami staff in 2000. He spent four seasons with the RedHawks before joining the staff of the Cleveland Browns in 2004. He returned to Miami following the 2004 season and was the architect of one of the Mid America Conference’s most successful defenses in 2005 and 2006.
Johnson and his wife, Sharday, have one son, Tyree.
The Johnson File:
Full Name: Taver R. Johnson
Born: Cincinnati, Ohio
Date of Birth: July 8, 1972
Age: 34
High School: CAPE
Alma Mater: Wittenberg, 1994, B. A. in Business Administration
Honors: Associated Press All-America 1992-93, North Coast Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year 1992-93
Position: Linebacker
Previous Coaching Experience: Wittenberg (defensive line, 1994-95), Millikin University (linebackers, 1995-97, linebackers and defensive coordinator, 1998), Notre Dame (graduate assistant, 1999), Miami of Ohio (linebackers, 2000-03), Cleveland Browns (special teams, 2004), Miami of Ohio (assistant head coach/defensive coordinator, 2005-06), Oakland Raiders (defensive line, 2007).
