Johnson marks 30 years as football coach with start of ‘24-25 season
By DAVID MORRIS
Cove Leader-Press
Copperas Cove Head Football Coach Tony Johnson celebrates a milestone with the start of the 2024-25 campaign for his Bulldawgs.
During his 30 years in coaching, Tony Johnson has amassed a 74-108 record, putting the pieces together of broken programs, and has held successful coordinator positions with Duncanville, South Grand Prairie and Cedar Hill.
“My record is not great as a head coach, because I have always taken ‘broken’ things,” said Johnson. “Turn is harder. Regardless, God has blessed me to be a successful coach in so many areas.”
Drawn to play the sport of in second grade, Johnson did so to be around his father who was also a coach.
“My dad was a coach, and I would see him often as we were about in our community and so many young men would walk up to him and say ‘hi Coach’ that threw me because he was my dad,” he said. “Yet all these young people loved him. It was his passion and together it brought us closer. I would say I wanted to please him and so playing became cool. Along the way I fell in love with what the game means and can teach you. It is not just about wins and losses or championships, rather the bonds and relationships that always last.”
At the junior high level of play, coach Larry Largent entered Johnson’s football family, having an influence in his life.
“His impact to a confused young man will never be fully explained. He was an amazing coach and friend,” Johnson said. “I strive to be like him as much as possible. This job allows you to have difficult conversations with kids and help be a light. I have counseled many kids in various troubling circumstances. It is what an educator does. They are a light in a dark place, at least they should be.”
During Johnson’s coaching time in Copperas Cove, he has signed more college recruits in the past two years than the previous four seasons, worked the Adidas All-American Game, and was named to the UIL/THSCA All-State selection team.
“I have been blessed to coach in three NCAA bowl games and win district titles,” Johnson said. “But my greatest accomplishment would be taking a 1-29 program over and making them playoff bound back-to-back. Then leaving and coming here to Cove and seeing the team still winning and all sports having success.”
Johnson and the Dawgs are working to build upon their success from a year ago that saw the team win a district matchup for the first time under Coach Johnson. They missed the playoffs by 14 points in the 2023 campaign and 16 points would have put the Dawgs at a 5-5 record in just his sophomore season in Copperas Cove.
“We know we are in a tough district; we get it. We all want to win,” he said. “I do think that my coaches genuinely love and care about their kids and helping them be great young men. We feel like this is a team that should contend for the playoffs.”
When not coaching, he plays golf, raises German Shepherds and rides around in his ‘78 Corvette with his wife Mary. They have four children and are expecting their first grandchild in December.
The Dawgs traveled to Lake Belton High School for their scrimmage on Thursday.
Next week, the Dawgs open the season at home against Ellison with Military Appreciation Night on Friday, Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m.