Tennis Coach Paul Johnson

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Paul Johnson begins his thirty-third year at ICC as men's tennis coach and his eighth year as women's head coach. This past season his Indians finished number 15 in the national tournament in Plano, Tex., where during the week of competition, Johnson received the prestigious Herschel Stephens Award, which is voted on by the NJCAA Tennis Coaches Association.  It’s an annual national coaching award for outstanding service and dedication to NJCAA tennis.

He began his coaching career at Ackerman High School in football. In 1972, he became an assistant football coach and men's tennis coach at Itawamba Junior College. The former head of ICC's Physical Education Department, Johnson has led the ICC men's team to 11 national tournament appearances, including the last nine years. His men have either won or shared five state championships and four Region 23 titles.  In addition, Johnson has been named the MACJC Men’s Tennis Coach of the Year six times and has won the MACJC Women’s Tennis Coach of the Year the last two seasons.

Johnson's Lady Indians were state and region runners-up on four different occasions and have earned five trips to the national event in Tucson, Ariz. His women’s team captured the state and Region 23 crowns a year ago, after sharing both titles with Meridian in 2006. ICC was also state runner-up in 2002.

Johnson, who received his United States Professional Tennis Association's Certificate in 1995, earned the Master of Education degree from Mississippi State University. The Nettleton native is married to the former Brenda Hill of Okolona, and they have two children, Leigh Craft of Atlanta, Ga. and Mitch, a graduate of MSU.

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