After four seasons at the helm of the University of Alaska Fairbanks men's basketball team, head coach Clemon Johnson is stepping down to take a Division I head coaching job at his alma mater, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU).Johnson finishes with a 28-74 overall record with the Nanooks (NCAA Division II).
Alaska fell just short of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference playoffs this season after finishing 8-17 (5-13 GNAC). He also recruited and coached the 2010-11 Ron Lenz National Player of the Year, Parrish West.
"The best part of my job is watching student-athletes go on to distinguished careers and seeing staff members pursue their dreams and move on to exciting professional opportunities,” Alaska Director of Athletics Forrest Karr said. “I couldn't be happier for Clem and his family."
Johnson played for FAMU from 1974-1978, during which time he set rebounding records for a single game (25), a season (412) and a career (1,494). Those records still stand, and he still ranks in the top-twenty in scoring with 1,381 points.
“The opportunity to return home is another blessed moment in my life,” Johnson said. “The departure from UAF is a bittersweet moment. I felt the incoming class and the returning players would recreate the stir heard during earlier years in the GNAC.
“But coming home to Florida A&M University allows me to continue my growth in my desired profession on another level. The past four years has been a great learning experience for my coaching and life development. The athletic staff, my coaching staff and administrators have provided guidance, patience, encouragement and knowledge.”
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| FAMU Head Basketball Coach Clem Johnson (Photos courtesy of University of Alaska Fairbanks Athletics) |
After graduating from FAMU with a degree in economics, Johnson was drafted to the NBA by the Portland Trailblazers in the second round of the 1978 draft. He played 761 professional games with four different teams, including the Blazers, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers and Seattle Supersonics.
Johnson retired from the NBA in 1988 and went on to play five years of professional basketball in Italy.
He then began coaching at the high school level in Florida before taking on a coaching internship with the Atlanta Hawks in 2006 and eventually making his way to Fairbanks the next year.
Last season, FAMU finished 12-20 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). They made the MEAC tournament, but lost 87-85 to Maryland Eastern Shore in the first round.
Alaska's head coaching position is posted on UAKjobs.com, NCAA.org and on various college coaching websites. The position will remain posted through Tuesday, May 17. A final decision will be announced by the end of May.
“It is with this presentation of support that I move forward confident of the job I retired for 18 years ago,” Johnson said. “I will always be grateful to Fairbanks and UAF.”
Courtesy University of Alaska Fairbanks Athletics
Author: Nick Steyn
VISIT: UAFATHLETICS
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