BOURBON — The Triton Board of Trustees approved the hiring of John Johns as Triton’s 15th head varsity football coach during Monday night’s meeting. Johns comes to Triton from Evansville Harrison High School, where he currently serves as the defensive coordinator and strength and conditioning coach. “I’m very excited to hire coach Johns,” said Triton High School Athletic Director Mason McIntyre. “John brings with him a successful playing and coaching career. He will fit well with our program and our school. I’m expecting to see great results from coach Johns both in the classroom and on the field.” Originally from Turkey Run High School, Johns has a rich athletic background. He graduated from Turkey Run High School in 1989 where he was a four-year letterman in football, a three-year letterman in basketball, and a four-year letterman in track. He went on to play football at Ball State University, where he played for Paul Shudel and played in the 1989 California Bowl against Fresno State. Johns graduated from Ball State with a Bachelor of Science degree in U.S. and European History and also from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education. At Triton, he will teach junior high history at Triton Jr/Sr High School starting in the fall of 2013. After graduating from college, Johns became a history teacher and offensive and defensive line coach at Tri-County from 1998-2000. He moved into the role of defensive coordinator for Tri-County from 2001-2006. Johns then moved on to teach and coach at North Vermillion High School, where he served one year as the defensive coordinator before moving into the head coaching position from 2007-2008, going 6-15 in those two seasons. Johns left North Vermillion to become the strength and conditioning coach at Evansville Harrison High School, where he is also the defensive coordinator. “I am very pleased with the opportunity to work at Triton,” Johns said. “The school has a rich history of both academic and athletic success. The student athletes at Triton have impressed me greatly.” Johns will take over a young Trojans team that went 1-9 last season under the direction of Rodney Younis. However, the future looks promising for Johns and the Trojans as they only lose six seniors. “They are a very capable group, and because of that I see great things for our program in the future,” Johns said. “As with any success it starts with hard work and dedication by all involved, and I am excited to start that process in preparation of our upcoming season. I consider it an honor and a privilege to have this opportunity.”
