Back to Old Stomping Grounds: Quick Return to VT for James Johnson

April 30th, 2012 - 22:52

James Johnson, an assistant for Virginia Tech the past five seasons under recently-dismissed Brad Greenberg, returned to the Hokies as head coach after serving as chief assistant with ACC rival Clemson for less than two weeks. VT had tried to retain him by offering to match his Clemson salary offer, but Johnson said it wasn't about the money, raising questions regarding whether there was a "family atmosphere" work environment.

Johnson isn't the only coach to make a good first impression before moving on to another school. He joins the following alphabetical list of current head coaches at a school where they previously served as an assistant before being hired while working elsewhere:

Active Coach School Years as Assistant for Same College Before Working Elsewhere
Mike Anderson Arkansas 1985-86 through 2001-02 under Nolan Richardson
Roman Banks Southern 1997-98 through 2002-03 under Tommy Green and Ben Jobe
Mick Cronin Cincinnati 1996-97 through 2000-01 under Bob Huggins
Howie Dickenman Central Connecticut State 1975-76 and 1976-77 under Bill Detrick
Tim Floyd Texas-El Paso 1977-78 through 1985-86 under Don Haskins
John Gallagher Hartford 2006-07 and 2007-08 under Dan Leibovitz
Chris Holtmann Gardner-Webb 2003-04 through 2007-08 under Rick Scruggs
Bob Huggins West Virginia 1977-78 under Joedy Gardner
Brad Huse Montana State 1994-95 and 1995-96 under Mick Durham
George Ivory Arkansas-Pine Bluff 2002-03 through 2005-06 under Van Holt
Rob Jeter Milwaukee 1999-2000 and 2000-01 under Bo Ryan
James Johnson Virginia Tech 2007-08 through 2011-12 under Brad Greenberg
James Jones Yale 1995-96 and 1996-97 under Dick Kuchen
Derek Kellogg Massachusetts 1996-97 under John Calipari
Billy Kennedy Texas A&M 1990-91 under Kermit Davis Jr.
Dale Layer Liberty 2007-08 under Ritchie McKay
Mike Martin Brown 2005-06 under Glen Miller
Steve Masiello Manhattan 2001-02 through 2004-05 under Bobby Gonzalez
Bob McKillop Davidson 1978-79 under Eddie Biedenbach
Scott Nagy South Dakota State 1990-91 through 1992-93 under Jim Thorson
Gregg Nibert Presbyterian 1981-82 through 1983-84 under Butch Estes
Kevin Nickelberry Howard University 1995-96 through 1997-98 under Mike McLeese
Dave Rice UNLV 1991-92 under Jerry Tarkanian and 1994-95 through 2003-04 under Tim Grgurich, Bill Bayno and Charlie Spoonhour
Keith Richard Louisiana-Monroe 1984-85, 1985-86 and 1989-90 through 1993-94 under Mike Vining
Bo Ryan Wisconsin 1976-77 through 1983-84 under Bill Cofield and Steve Yoder
Bill Self Kansas 1985-86 under Larry Brown
Dave Simmons McNeese State 1987-88 through 1993-94 under Steve Welch
Marty Simmons Evansville 1997-98 through 2001-02 under Jim Crews
Roy Williams North Carolina 1978-79 through 1987-88 under Dean Smith
Jay Wright Villanova 1987-88 through 1991-92 under Rollie Massimino

NOTE: Cronin, Dickenman, Huggins, Kellogg, Richard, M. Simmons and Williams graduated from the schools where they are coaching.