J.D. Johnson, Head Coach from Feather River has resigned

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, 2014
Feather River Community College District
570 Golden Eagle Ave.
Quincy, CA 95971
FRC Football Coach Resigns
Feather River College Head Football Coach, J.D. Johnson announced his resignation effective at the end
of April, 2014. Coach Johnson has been with the FRC Golden Eagles since 2009, where he started as
Defensive Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach and moved up to Head Football Coach during the 2010
season. He plans to relocate from Quincy to be closer to his family. FRC will develop the hiring timeline
and begin the recruitment for a new football head coach in the next few months. J.D. will continue
teaching his online courses for FRC throughout the semester while he moves closer to help his family.
FRC Offensive Coordinator Josh White and Defensive Coordinator Mike Haydon will co-lead the studentathlete recruiting process for the upcoming season until a head coach is named.
Under Coach Johnson’s direction, Feather River College Football earned numerous individual and team
awards. In 2013, FRC had a CCCFCA All-American player, CCCFCA Region II Player of the Year, and MidEmpire Conference Player of the Year. Fifteen of his players were named to the All-California 1st Team
since 2010 while 36 players earned All-Conference honors and three different players were named
CCCAA Northern California Football Player-of-the-Week. Only seven school records exist that have not
been broken by one of the teams that J.D. coached at FRC. His teams set a total of 71 school individual
offensive, individual defensive, special teams, team offense, and team defense records at every level,
including the most consecutive wins in school history.
“What I am most proud of is the Academic-All State Awards that our players have earned. In the past
four years, FRC has always had either one or two players on this elite list from the entire State of
California,” said Coach Johnson. The FRC Football team has transferred numerous players. Feather
River College Superintendent/President Dr. Kevin Trutna stated, “Walking across the stage at graduation
during the past two years that I have been at FRC, I have seen our football student-athletes transfer to
NAIA schools such as Montana State University-Northern in the Frontier Conference all the way up to
Division I powerhouses like the University of Tennessee in the Southeastern Conference. Our studentathletes coached by J.D. routinely end up attending a university and playing at the next level.” The FRC
Football Team has averaged a 2.65 G.P.A. since 2011, including multiple individual scholar-athlete
awards. Between 2010-13, FRC produced 44 football transfer students who combined to earn over $2
million in scholarships.
The Feather River College Football Golden Eagles participate in the Mid-Empire Conference of the
Central Division as part of the California Community College Athletic Association. The conference
includes College of the Siskiyous, Diablo Valley College, and Sacramento City College. Feather River
College compiled a 6-4 record in 2013 going up against a very difficult schedule including opening the
season against eventual undefeated state champion Butte College.
J.D. Johnson played at the University of Northern Colorado, where he earned his degree in Journalism
and Mass Communications and helped lead the Bears to the school’s first ever Division II National
Championship in 1996. His coaching career includes experience at Colorado State University as an
offensive assistant under head coach Sonny Lubick, where he coached several NFL players including WR
David Anderson (Texans, Broncos, Redskins), QB Bradlee Van Pelt (Broncos, Texans), and current Denver
Broncos TE Joel Dreessen. J.D. Johnson also worked at the University of Wisconsin-Stout 2008-09
(Assistant Coach: Running Backs), Southern Oregon University 2006-07 (Defensive Coordinator),
Colorado State University 2003-05 (Assistant Coach: Quality Control), Loras College 2001-02 (Defensive
Coordinator), Nichols College 1999-01 (Defensive Coordinator), and Saint Mary’s College of California
(Graduate Assistant Coach: Linebackers, Special Teams).
Feather River Community College District, located in Quincy, California, is a small, rural community
college offering courses in transfer programs, career and technical training, and basic skills education.
FRC offers small classes where students receive individual attention from faculty and staff in its location
known as “the million acre classroom.” Unique programs in equine studies, outdoor recreation
leadership, fish and wildlife hatchery, and environmental studies enhance traditional transfer programs
and technical training. On-campus dormitory housing is available. FRC boasts an accomplished athletic
program with several men’s and women’s championship sports supported by the local community. The
Board of Trustees recently adopted an ambitious plan ensuring that FRC is a leader in environmentally
sustainable practices. For further information, contact (530) 283-0202 ext. 233.

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