UCF is looking for a new defensive backs coach for the second time in the past three months, after reports emerged on Tuesday that Will Johnson was leaving the program to join the coaching staff with the Minnesota Vikings.
Johnson was hired in December to replace Brandon Harris, who left to join Jon Sumrall’s coaching staff at Florida. Johnson will join Kevin O’Connell’s coaching staff as a defensive assistant, according to the Vikings’ website.
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Coach Scott Frost had expressed excitement about having Johnson join his coaching staff.
“I don’t think UCF should ever be afraid to find coaches that are kind of up-and-comers,” Frost said in late January. “I’ve heard that from a lot of people about Will and I can see why, since he’s been here, he’s going to do a great job for us in the defensive secondary.”
A Baltimore native, Johnson began his football career as a defensive back at Oklahoma from 2015 to 2017, where he played under renowned coach Bob Stoops. He played in 29 games, recording 120 tackles, 2 interceptions and 8 passes defended, before spending time in the NFL.
In 2020, Johnson joined Lincoln Riley’s coaching staff at Oklahoma as a graduate assistant, where he worked closely with UCF defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, who was then the Sooners’ defensive coordinator.
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When Riley and the Grinch headed off to USC, Johnson decided to follow their lead and served as a graduate assistant from 2022 to 2023. In 2024, he moved on to North Dakota State, where he became the cornerbacks coach. In his first season there, he played a pivotal role in helping the Bisons clinch a national championship.
Johnson was among a trio of hires by Frost in the offseason, with the Knights welcoming AJ Blazek as their new offensive line coach and Cooper Bassett as tight ends coach.
Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.
