Johnson Found Joy in Coaching and Forged Stellar Career

Don Johnson has been fortunate enough to have his life’s path crossed by two of the more important people in basketball history.

Johnson’s mother attended classes at Kansas taught by Dr. James Naismith, the inventor of the game, and told her three sons about her experience.

More directly, Johnson’s life was affected by UCLA’s John Wooden, regarded by many as the greatest college coach. Johnson played for Wooden in 1950-51 and 1951-52 and was his second All-American in 1952. George Stanich was the first in 1950.

After 12 years as head boys’ basketball coach at El Rancho High, Johnson brought his dreams and talents to Cypress College to start the program in 1966, the year the school opened.

Cypress, under Johnson, won state titles in 1977 and 1980 and reached the semifinals four other times, most recently in 1991. Johnson retired after the 1993-94 season as the state’s winningest community college men’s basketball coach with a mark of 588-259. He will be inducted into the the Orange County Hall of Fame on Thursday.

During his 39 years of coaching--27 at Cypress--Johnson learned things along the way he said he wants to share with other coaches.

“In my final season, I became quite aware of the role coaches play,” Johnson said. “Academic [teachers] should be so fortunate. Our students dream of being accepted in our classrooms, but rarely are.

“Coaching is stressful and kids today are difficult with playing-time demands and stats. But coaching should never be considered a chore. It’s a privilege and a joy.”

Anyone who watched Johnson on the sidelines saw that he rarely looked like a man enjoying himself. His satisfaction came during practices, when he worked hard to instill his motto: “Tough, smart, unselfish.”

Johnson often said his goal was to design a practice during which every moment something positive was being accomplished.

He constantly made lists of things needed to be done and devised many schemes to out-coach opponents. But the one thing he could never fully tame was the stress he placed on himself.

It got so bad for Johnson that he had to sit out the 1972-73 season, but he returned the next with new desire--and Jack Long.

Long served as Johnson’s top assistant until they retired together. Johnson credits Long with being an organizational genius and saving his life by taking over such duties as scheduling and organizing trips and tournaments.

Johnson was an animated coach who was hard on his players, but he was never out of control. His opening question at the first team meeting was usually, “Can you take criticism?”

His teams always improved greatly from the start to the end of a season.

Johnson’s first state championship came in 1977, thanks largely to the play of Tyrone Branyan, one of Cypress’ all-time greats.

In 1980, Cypress’ reputation as a haven for centers was cemented when the Chargers won another state title with Mark Eaton at the low post. Johnson gives credit to former assistant coach Tom Lubin, who worked with many of the Cypress centers.

Eaton followed in the footsteps of Swen Nater, who played at Cypress from 1968 to 1970. Both went on to play in the NBA, and Eaton recently had his number retired by the Utah Jazz.

Eaton also was one of the players who took part in what Johnson considers his most memorable game.

In the semifinals of the 1980 state tournament at Cal Poly Pomona, Cypress met Saddleback. The Gauchos were coached by Bill Mulligan and led by forward Kevin Magee, maybe the county’s best community college player ever. “There was just an electricity in the air,” Johnson said. “I really couldn’t feel my feet as I walked along the sidelines.”

Cypress won, 74-64.

It wasn’t until the end of Johnson’s coaching career that he was finally caught totally off-guard. It happened in May of 1994, when the Cypress basketball staff held a surprise retirement party for Johnson and Long.

Several former players, friends and coaching peers were on hand to honor Johnson.

“He was always the guy to beat,” Rancho Santiago Coach Dana Pagett said of Johnson. “His teams always played hard and were well-schooled in the fundamentals, and he always had excellent control of his players.”

Several of Johnson’s former players have become coaches themselves, including Dave Holmquist at Biola, Jim Sargent at Fresno Pacific and John Moore at Westmont.

Johnson spoke at his retirement party but was unhappy with his speech, mainly because he didn’t thank enough people.

So, in typical Johnson fashion, he sat down and wrote out what he would have liked to say. The result was a six-page, single-spaced, thank-you note that went out to several of those in attendance.

Johnson started with his parents and several coaches, including Alex Omalev at Fullerton College.

He then made a point to thank everyone who every took part in his program, from the players to all his assistants, including current head Coach Paul Bottiaux and former assistant Gene Lambdin. He also thanked the booster club and current Cypress Athletic Director Dick Van Voorhis, current sports information director Alan Lombardi and former team manager Dick Kirk.

Johnson, a father of three and also a grandfather of three, also thanked Colette, his wife of 44 years, who stood up to him in defense of several players Johnson wanted to kick off his teams.

“I never regarded myself as a great coach,” Johnson said. “I was always a struggling coach just trying to survive the stress.”

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Orange County Hall of Fame

* What: Orange County Sports Hall of Fame ceremonies and dinner.

* Date: Thursday, March 28

* Time: Ceremonies at 6 p.m., dinner at 7:30

* Location: Near Gate 6, Anaheim Stadium

* Honorees: Don Johnson, former Cypress College men’s basketball coach; Mike Lansford, former Ram kicker; Dick Tucker, former Orange Coast College and Brea Olinda High football coach; Clyde Wright, former Angel pitcher; Mark Wulfmeyer, former Troy High basketball and baseball standout.

* Background: The Hall of Fame opened in December 1993. This year’s additions brings the total of inducted members to 78.

* Tickets: $100 per person or $1,000 for a table of 10.

* Reservations: (714) 758-9882.