Former APA AD Kelly Johnson to come back to school after 12 years with William Peace
By Junious Smith III / Sports EditorKINSTON FREE PRESS
For Kelly Johnson, there’s no place like home.
On March 17, William Peace University announced Johnson would be stepping down after 12 years as the athletic director at the school, along with serving as the women’s basketball coach. During his tenure at Peace, Johnson had 13 players to be named USA South All-Conference and more than 50 as Academic All-Conference recipients. Johnson is also credited for playing an important role in the development of six men’s sports added to the university over the past three years — baseball, basketball, cross-country, golf, soccer and tennis.
Johnson, the former AD at Arendell Parrott before taking over at William Peace, said he’ll be working at the university until May to help with the transition process before coming back to the Kinston-based school to coach girls’ varsity basketball in the 2016-17 season. Johnson was the former varsity boys’ coach at APA from 1996 to 2004, racking up 124 wins, three straight conference titles from 2000 to 2002 and making the NCISAA semifinals three times, with a state championship appearance in 2001.
For Johnson, he plans to focus on one position while also enjoying time at home.
“I’ve been an AD for 30 years—18 at Parrott and 12 at William Peace,” Johnson said. “After so many years at two fine institutions, I reached the point in my career for the opportunity to move out of that and when this job came about, I took it. I still enjoy coaching and when I talked to Coach (Bert) Bright about it, we had a great conversation and it felt like a wonderful opportunity.
“When I came to William Peace, it was an all-girls’ school and we had 60 athletes in six sports. Now, it’s 12 sports and 180 athletes with a co-ed school and the administrative part has gotten to be a lot. I still have a house in Kinston and to me, it’s like I’m coming home. Ironically enough, Matt Beaman) was one of my former athletes when I coached basketball and football at Parrott.”
Beaman, the current athletic director at APA, said the school was quick to hire Johnson because of his experience and also lighten Shivar Person’s workload. Person coached girls’ basketball last season on top of his coaching responsibilities in boys’ and girls’ soccer.
“I think any time you have the opportunity to hire a coach with 12 years of college experience, familiar with Parrott and how it works, you have to jump at it,” Beaman said. “He has been a great asset to the school in the past and will continue to be one. It also allows Shivar Person to take over soccer full-time, so it’s a win-win on both sides.”
Johnson said he hopes to continue the legacy of Arendell Parrott Athletics.
“Historically, there have been some good teams and players here,” Johnson said. “There’s a lot of potential there and I’ll be able to focus primarily on one sport, which I like. I feel like I can teach these players the game and I’m familiar with the type of students and academics here at Parrott. I know it won’t be easy, but I’m not someone who backs away from a challenge and I’m excited.”
By Junious Smith III / Sports EditorKINSTON FREE PRESS
For Kelly Johnson, there’s no place like home.
On March 17, William Peace University announced Johnson would be stepping down after 12 years as the athletic director at the school, along with serving as the women’s basketball coach. During his tenure at Peace, Johnson had 13 players to be named USA South All-Conference and more than 50 as Academic All-Conference recipients. Johnson is also credited for playing an important role in the development of six men’s sports added to the university over the past three years — baseball, basketball, cross-country, golf, soccer and tennis.
Johnson, the former AD at Arendell Parrott before taking over at William Peace, said he’ll be working at the university until May to help with the transition process before coming back to the Kinston-based school to coach girls’ varsity basketball in the 2016-17 season. Johnson was the former varsity boys’ coach at APA from 1996 to 2004, racking up 124 wins, three straight conference titles from 2000 to 2002 and making the NCISAA semifinals three times, with a state championship appearance in 2001.
For Johnson, he plans to focus on one position while also enjoying time at home.
“I’ve been an AD for 30 years—18 at Parrott and 12 at William Peace,” Johnson said. “After so many years at two fine institutions, I reached the point in my career for the opportunity to move out of that and when this job came about, I took it. I still enjoy coaching and when I talked to Coach (Bert) Bright about it, we had a great conversation and it felt like a wonderful opportunity.
“When I came to William Peace, it was an all-girls’ school and we had 60 athletes in six sports. Now, it’s 12 sports and 180 athletes with a co-ed school and the administrative part has gotten to be a lot. I still have a house in Kinston and to me, it’s like I’m coming home. Ironically enough, Matt Beaman) was one of my former athletes when I coached basketball and football at Parrott.”
Beaman, the current athletic director at APA, said the school was quick to hire Johnson because of his experience and also lighten Shivar Person’s workload. Person coached girls’ basketball last season on top of his coaching responsibilities in boys’ and girls’ soccer.
“I think any time you have the opportunity to hire a coach with 12 years of college experience, familiar with Parrott and how it works, you have to jump at it,” Beaman said. “He has been a great asset to the school in the past and will continue to be one. It also allows Shivar Person to take over soccer full-time, so it’s a win-win on both sides.”
Johnson said he hopes to continue the legacy of Arendell Parrott Athletics.
“Historically, there have been some good teams and players here,” Johnson said. “There’s a lot of potential there and I’ll be able to focus primarily on one sport, which I like. I feel like I can teach these players the game and I’m familiar with the type of students and academics here at Parrott. I know it won’t be easy, but I’m not someone who backs away from a challenge and I’m excited.”
